Two shipping companies have signified their intention to participate in the bidding for salvage operations on the M/V Ever Transport III, the cargo ship that ran aground on December 17 in Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City.

The bidders are the Uni-Orient Pearl Ventures Inc. and Steel Ray Salvaging Services, Lt. Commander Agapito Bibat, head of the Philippine Coast Guard Station in Dumaguete, said.

Bibat said Kheri Lines Inc. that owns the grounded ship, has not yet awarded the bidding to any salvage company to either have the M/V Ever Transport III refloated or towed.

Bibat could not say, however, when the salvage operations will start.

The M/V Transport III ran aground December 17 and has since been anchored near the estuary of the Banica River, with some crew members keeping watch over it.

It is not known yet which shipping company will take charge of the retrieval of about 600 cases of beer still on board the vessel.

About 200 other cases of beer were lost at sea or to scavengers when the vessel was beached, Bibat said.

Bibat had earlier reported that on December 30, the M/V Morning Glory had pumped out thousands of liters of diesel fuel from the ship with hundreds of unused and used lube oil reported missing. He also said some 7,000 liters of diesel fuel have either been lost to sea or remain trapped inside the cargo ship but assured that there is minimal danger of oil leakage.

An underwater survey showed that the vessel was heavily damaged, with holes and cracks seen on its sides, although Bibat said doors, port holes, and pipes have been sealed or plugged to prevent an oil spill.*JFP

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