THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has seized 17 of 28 inspected vessels involved in dredging activities in Zambales on Mar. 19 to 21.
PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said three of the sea craft were of foreign registry (China, Sierra Leone, and Panama), while 25 are bareboat charters registered in the Philippines. The 17 grounded ships were all bareboat charters registered locally.
Based on a directive by the PCG commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG personnel conducted marine environmental protection inspection and vessel safety enforcement inspection on board these vessels—recording 344 deficiencies for adjudication of the Coast Guard Station in Manila.
During the inspections, PCG personnel secured a copy of issued Special Permits and Bareboat Charter by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to compare it with the list of identified dredgers and suction cutters in Zambales.
On 19 March 2024, the Port State Control Division in Subic, Zambales inspected three foreign vessels that were involved in the dredging operations, namely, a cutter suction dredger from China with six deficiencies; an anchor boat from Sierra Leone with seven deficiencies; and a tugboat from Panama with 12 deficiencies.
The PCG also noted multiple deficiencies on another tugboat and a second anchor boat which likewise underwent rigid inspection.
The PCG issued Enforcement Inspection Apprehension Report for adjudication of the CGS Zambales.
Furthermore, 13 dredgers within the area of responsibility of the CGS Manila, were also found with several deficiencies.
They were issued with apprehension reports for adjudication, while nine of them have been detained.
On Thursday, eight of 10 inspected vessels were also seized due to 30 deficiencies.
