• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A cargo vessel carrying tons of coal ran aground on Thursday while docking at the port of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
Initial investigations by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Northern Negros Occidental revealed that LCT TML The Chairman, loaded with 360 metric tons of coal from Semirara, Antique, was maneuvering to dock at the Cadiz commercial port when it suddenly drifted into shallow waters due to strong currents, causing it to run aground.
Despite the incident, the vessel showed no signs of structural damage to its hull, although oil slicks were sighted in the vicinity, according to the Coast Guard.
A tugboat assisted LCT TML The Chairman during high tide to tow the vessel back to deeper waters.
Captain Joyvill Tangpus, who reported the incident to the Coast Guard Sub-Station in Cadiz, was advised to file a marine protest to officially document the circumstances.
The PCG is set to conduct a marine investigation to determine the cause of the incident and assess whether the vessel’s crew complied with safety and navigational protocols. | GB
