CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Philippine Coast Guard is urging vessel owners transporting sand and aggregates from various points in the country to cover cargoes with appropriate materials to prevent water absorption.
The coast guard has noted an increase in the reports they receive involving vessels with sand and aggregates exceeding their authorized cargo limits.
Commo. Wenial A. Azcuna, PCG district commander, said the number of deliveries of sand and aggregates coming in the province from different points in the country corresponds to the high demand in Cebu.
“Ang Cebu man gud karon, booming, daghan kaayo’g mga project. So diri, very few lang ata ang quarry diri sa Cebu tapos dili na ma-meet ang requirements so gasige ta og kuha from Bicol, Mindanao, from Aklan,” Azcuna said.
(Cebu is booming right now especially with the high number of infrastructure projects. There are only a few quarries here in Cebu and then the requirements can no longer be met so we are getting from Bicol, Mindanao, from Aklan.)
Azcuna cited a recent incident in Danao City where a vessel nearly submerged due to overloading of sand after it absorbed rainwater and possibly seawater.
PCG urged shipowners to practice precautionary measures to avoid accidents.
Azcuna explained vessels are not mandated to cover the sand or aggregate cargoes while in transit.
However, to ensure maritime safety and environmental protection, CGDCV regularly issues advisories to help vessels transporting sand and aggregate keep their load safely and avoid accidents from point of origin to destination.
“Nag-issue mi og advisory sa ilaha nga as much as possible, kung pwede ilahang tabunan nila ilahang kargo na balas kay bisan dili sila overloaded didto sa ilahang port of origin inig transit ana man gud nila kung maulanan, kung (mabasa) og balud ang balas mas mobug-at man,” Azcuna said.
(We issued an advisory to them to remind them that as much as possible, they cover their cargo of sand. Because even if they are not overloaded at their port of origin, if it rains when they are in transit, the sand will get heavier.)
Azcuna stressed that by staying within the authorized limit of load, vessels avoid incurring unnecessary damages. (JJT/PIA 7)
