A month has passed since the cargo ship M/V Ever Transport III ran aground off the coast of Calindagan in Dumaguete City at the height of tropical storm Sendong, but there is no word yet as to its salvaging operations today despite reassurances from the Philippine Coast Guard.

Public concern has surfaced over the effects on the marine environment and risks to mariners and the public with the Ever Transport III still in the present location.

 The Steel Ray Salvaging Services won the bid over another contender, the Uni-Orient Pearl Ventures, Inc., to salvage the grounded cargo ship, but its application for a permit from the PCG national headquarters has not yet been approved, Lt. Commander Agapito Bibat, chief of the PCG station in Dumaguete said Wednesday.

Bibat said, the application is on the desk of the PCG Commandant a for signature. Without the permit, the Steel Ray Salvaging Services cannot start its operations to refloat and tow the M/V Ever Transport III, a cargo ship with a gross tonnage of 494.87 owned by Kheri Lines, Inc. based in Zamboanga City.

Bibat has reiterated his assurance that the vessel is being monitored to avoid a possible oil leakage.

 Bibat said containment measures, such as anti-oil spill booms, sealing of fuel storage tanks and doors, port holes, cracks, and plugging of breather and filling pipes, are in place.

Meanwhile, Bibat said Kheri Lines, Inc. and Capt. Cuevas have filed a marine protest with the Maritime Industry Authority.*JFP

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