Safety questions raised in wake of maritime accidents of dredging vessels

ATM Press Statatement | May 5, 2023

Alyansa Tigil Mina raised safety questions on the shipment of ores in the wake of two maritime accidents in a span of ten days, which involved Chinese mining and dredging vessels.

Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator said: “The recent maritime accidents should prompt the DENR to closely monitor ore shipment and dredging vessels. We call on the agency to impose a moratorium on these activities until a thorough evaluation is conducted.”

A collision between between the 140-meter dredger MV Hong Hai 189 and the 183-meter MT Petite Soeur occurred last Friday, April 28. Two crew members died in the accident while three are missing.

Ten days prior, a Chinese-flagged bulk carrier, MV Zhe Hai 168, ran aground about 4 km off Barangay Sulangan, in Guiuan, Eastern Samar province.

Garganera called for “proper compensation to the victims as well as an immediate impact assessment of the incidents on the coastal resources and coral reefs.”

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