Retrieval of endosulfan from 'Princess' to start Sept. 1, says official
07/25/2008 | 04:25 PM
MANILA, Philippines — A company hired by Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) to retrieve dangerous chemicals and bunker fuel inside the capsized M/V “Princess of the Stars" would likely start operations only on September 1, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said on Friday.
Undersecretary Elena Bautista said SLI, owner of the ill-fated inter-island vessel, signed a $7.5 million contract with Titan Salvage on Thursday night, but the salvage company said it will start mobilizing personnel and equipment only after the shipping firm gives the down payment.
Bautista said Titan has given SLI up to 10 banking days to produce the $3.5 million down payment.
She said the mobilization would take 21 days and only until then can Titan start the retrieval operations, which they are expected to finish within another 21 days.
Bautista also explained that the contract covers only the retrieval of tons of bunker fuel, hydrocarbon and endosulfan pesticides owned by Del Monte Philippines Incorporated and Bayer Crop Science.
Titan intends to dig a hole on the side of the ship where the cargos are located.
Edgar Go, SLI senior first vice president, said his firm has been talking with the Philippine Technical Divers to handle retrieval of bodies but the priority as of this time, is the retrieval of the chemicals.
Titan, however, agreed to get bodies that their divers would find during the toxic retrieval operations for “humanitarian reasons."
Go said SLI has coordinated with the Philippine Technical Divers for the retrieval of the bodies which would start immediately after the toxic cargo has been recovered.
Search and retrieval operations were halted after the 10-metric tons of endosulfan were found loaded onto the capsized ferry. - GMANews.TV
Undersecretary Elena Bautista said SLI, owner of the ill-fated inter-island vessel, signed a $7.5 million contract with Titan Salvage on Thursday night, but the salvage company said it will start mobilizing personnel and equipment only after the shipping firm gives the down payment.
Bautista said Titan has given SLI up to 10 banking days to produce the $3.5 million down payment.
She said the mobilization would take 21 days and only until then can Titan start the retrieval operations, which they are expected to finish within another 21 days.
Bautista also explained that the contract covers only the retrieval of tons of bunker fuel, hydrocarbon and endosulfan pesticides owned by Del Monte Philippines Incorporated and Bayer Crop Science.
Titan intends to dig a hole on the side of the ship where the cargos are located.
Edgar Go, SLI senior first vice president, said his firm has been talking with the Philippine Technical Divers to handle retrieval of bodies but the priority as of this time, is the retrieval of the chemicals.
Titan, however, agreed to get bodies that their divers would find during the toxic retrieval operations for “humanitarian reasons."
Go said SLI has coordinated with the Philippine Technical Divers for the retrieval of the bodies which would start immediately after the toxic cargo has been recovered.
Search and retrieval operations were halted after the 10-metric tons of endosulfan were found loaded onto the capsized ferry. - GMANews.TV
