Asia/Pacific News
Bunkers to be Siphoned from Chinese Vessel Grounded in Philippines
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) plans to siphon bunker fuel from a Chinese fishing vessel that ran aground in the Tubbataha Reefs National Park Monday night so it can be moved, the Global Post news site reports.
Major Oliver Bañaria, spokesman for the Western Command, said yesterday that the PCG had already removed several heavy items from the vessel but that siphoning off the fuel would be more difficult.
"What the Coast Guard will do is to siphon the bunker fuel from the fishing vessel to prevent leaking or spillage in Tubbataha," Bañaria said
"They are hoping that in doing this, the weight of the ship will be light enough for high tide to float it away from the coral island."
Philippine authorities are accusing the Chinese crew of poaching, saying the vessel entered the protected marine park area illegally, although only a small amount of fish were found in the vessel.
BBC News reports that the crew of the 48 meter vessel, which the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) identified as the Min Long Yu, face up to 12 years in jail and a $300,000 fine.
"We will seek to quickly prosecute and resolve this case," said Alen Ross Rodriguez, a local official in Palawan.
"No-one can just enter our waters and wilfully destroy our marine life."
The U.S. Navy minesweeper USS Guardian hit the same reef in January.
