UN will inspect capsized Philippine Ferry Carrying Pesticides

This is from Bloomberg.
If there is serious leakage of the pesticides into the water this could be disastrous for the local marine environment. Already fishing is banned in the area. Other news reports claim that the ferry is not to be refloated but towed to shore. As usual it takes a while to get agreement on what is to happen.

UN Will Inspect Capsized Philippines Ferry Carrying Pesticides
By Michael Heath
July 11 (Bloomberg) -- The United Nations sent a team of chemical specialists to the Philippines to inspect a ferry carrying pesticides that capsized in a typhoon last month, killing more than 700 passengers and crew.
``If not handled properly, this could be a disaster upon a disaster,'' said Vladimir Sakharov, chief of the environmental unit that coordinates international responses to such emergencies. ``Leakage of the ferry's toxic cargo would cause major ecological damage and thereby have a terrible impact on the livelihoods of people living in the region.''
Philippine salvage crews suspended efforts to retrieve bodies from the MV Princess of the Stars June 27 after discovering tons of pesticides in the vessel lying about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) off Sibuyan Island in the central Philippines. Only 56 of the more than 800 people on board survived the disaster, with the remainder probably trapped inside the vessel, according to the UN.
The world body is concerned about ``large'' quantities of ``highly toxic'' insecticides including endosulfan, carbofuran and methmamidophos in the vessel, in addition to an estimated 100,000 liters of fuel.
The June 21 accident, which occurred as Typhoon Fengshen struck the area, is the Philippines' worst maritime disaster since the MV Dona Paz ferry sank in 1987 after colliding with an oil tanker, killing more than 4,000 people.
Float Ferry
The Philippines will try to float the ferry in order to remove the pesticides in an operation that may take as long as three months, Transport Undersecretary Elena Bautista said last week. It will involve positioning floaters under the vessel and using ballasts to turn it upright.
The UN team, comprising a marine chemist, an eco- toxicologist and a civil protection specialist, will spend a week in the Philippines to assess how to ensure the pesticides don't leak, the world body said in a statement on its Web site yesterday. The mission is a joint initiative of the UN and European Union, it added.
Philippine and U.S. divers discovered 10 metric tons of endosulfan belonging to Del Monte Philippines, prompting them to abandon salvage efforts, Vice President Noli de Castro told a news conference June 27.
The vessel was on a regular run between Manila and Cebu, the country's biggest cities, when it was caught in huge swells and ran aground before capsizing. The tip of the bow remains above water.
To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Heath in Sydney at mheath1@bloomberg.net Last Updated: July 10, 2008 20:59 EDT

Philippines: Del Monte, Sulpicio swap raps

This is from the Inquirer.
Perhaps Sulpico has been transporting dangerous goods on passenger ferries for some time. I assume that is not legal. It still remains to be seen what the state of the pesticide is within the cargo van within the ship. As another post indicates the UN has sent experts. This shows the danger that may be involved.

Del Monte, Sulpicio swap raps at BMI hearing
By Katherine EvangelistaINQUIRER.netFirst Posted 15:37:00 07/11/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The broker for the food conglomerate who owns the 10 tons of toxic cargo onboard the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars faced the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) during the resumption of the hearing Friday.
The BMI is the fact finding body investigating the cause of the sinking of the Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI)-owned Princess of the Stars which capsized and sank off the coast of Romblon during the onslaught of typhoon “Frank” (international codename: Fengshen), bringing down some 800 passengers and crew and endosulfan on board.
CEVA Philippines Country Manager Dante Macaisa, following orders from their client, Del Monte Philippines Inc. (DMPI), claimed that they solicited the services of SLI to transport the 40-foot container van loaded with 400 boxes of endosulfan pesticide to Cagayan de Oro.
Macaisa added that during the preparation for the domestic bill of loading, CEVA submitted 10 required documents -- the Material Safety Data Sheet, International Bill of Lading (BOL), Certificate of Insurance, and Transit Cargo Manifest to Sulpicio, which properly identifies the endosulfan cargo to be “toxic” and a “marine pollutant.”
However, Macaisa claimed that Sulpicio’s representative said that other documents “were not necessary” and gave them back to CEVA Philippines. Macaisa did not identify which documents were returned.
SLI legal counsel Arthur Lim asked for clarification on whether CEVA Philippines received an “acknowledgement receipt” from Sulpicio’s representative, verifying that the broker had submitted the documents.
In response to the query, Macaisa said that they were not issued the receipt.
In an interview, SLI spokesperson and legal counsel Ma. Victoria Lim-Florido asked whether CEVA could furnish a copy of the acknowledgement receipt that would prove that the pertinent documents were presented.
SLI usually issues acknowledgement receipts to their clients and shippers “especially if it involves dangerous cargo,” Florido added.
However, Florido maintained that their client did not receive the documents, which Macaisa claimed that they had submitted.
Macaisa added that the cargo van onto which the endosulfan was loaded was properly labeled with “uniform international codes for the transport of dangerous goods and is the reference for all ocean carriers for dangerous goods.”
CEVA Philippines and DMPI have been transacting with each other for more than 27 years and that this was the first time that they had encountered a problem like this, Macaisa said.

Ferry Owner sues Del Monte over toxic chemical

This will be an interesting case. I presume that if the material was toxic it should not have been shipped on a passenger ferry. News reports do not make it clear if the material has now leaked out into the ocean although fishing is prohibited near the ferry sinking site so either it has or it is just a precaution. This is from the Inquirer.

Sulpicio files civil case vs Del Monte over toxic chemical
By Tetch TorresINQUIRER.netFirst Posted 16:23:00 07/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Sulpicio Lines Inc. has filed a civil case against Del Monte Philippines for its failure to declare as toxic the chemical endosulfan that was loaded into the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars.
The inter-island ferry vessel sank off Sibuyan Island last June 21 during the onslaught of typhoon “Frank” (international codename: Fengshen) with over 800 passengers and crew on board.
In its eight-page complaint filed before the Manila City regional trial court, Sulpicio said Del Monte violated the breach of term and condition when it failed to inform the shipping company that they were carrying a toxic substance.
Sulpicio insisted that it was the duty of Del Monte to inform them of the cargo that they would be carrying.
The shipping firm is also asking for P5.5 million in damages over the alleged negligence of the food conglomerate to inform them about the toxic chemical

Philippine government to refloat sunken ferry.

This is from pacificnews.
I understand that fishing is prohibited near the vessel as a precaution since part of the cargo was a pesticide. I can't fathom why the remains would need to go half way around the world to Bosnia for DNA testing!


Philippine Government To Refloat Sunken Vessel
Written by ANC News Monday, July 07, 2008 06:18 PM
Philippines
Manila, Philippines - The Philippine government will begin operations to refloat the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars this week.
The vessel owned by Sulpicio Lines will be refloated to allow the recovery of trapped bodies inside, and the shipment of a highly toxic pesticide called endosulfan.
Meanwhile, the remains of the victims of the ferry disaster will be sent to Bosnia for DNA tests.
For more and related stories, go to http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/.

Update on Fengshen casualties in Philippines

Given that there are so many on the ferry unaccounted for it seems that the toll will rise still higher in the coming days. The damage to crops will make things even worse for many filipinos already facing high rice prices.


Typhoon death toll rises to 664 in Philippines
www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-28 00:40:02

MANILA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from typhoon Fengshen has risen to 664 in the Philippines, according to the latest government data released on Friday night.
Besides those confirmed dead due to the capsizal of an ill-fated ferry, the Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council said as of Friday evening, 540 more fatalities have been reported from all parts of the typhoon affected areas. Floods and mudflows were the major reasons for the deaths.
The M/V Princes of the Stars capsized off the Philippines' central province of Romblon last Saturday at the height of the typhoon, with 862 passengers and crew on board. The last official casualty count from the ship was placed at 124, with only 56 survivors confirmed while most of the others are still missing, mostly feared dead.
Rescue and retrieval operations inside the overturn ferry were halted on Friday following reports that the vessel was carrying a pesticide cargo.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez Jr said the vessel was found to be carrying 10,000 metric tons of the highly-toxic pesticide, and that authorities have shifted efforts to containing the chemical and retrieving the shipment.
The shipment retrieval is expected to start on Saturday afternoon, according to Transportation Undersecretary Elena Bautista.
Of the 540 fatalities confirmed by the disaster-relief agency, 328 have been identified while the rest 212 not yet.
At least 291 were reported injured while 277 remained missing, National Disaster Coordinating Council said in its latest report.
The agency said the typhoon affected 571,641 families or 2,875,725 persons in 46 provinces.
Of these, some 422,618 families or 2,215,529 persons have been served inside and outside evacuation centers, it added.
At least 65,413 houses were destroyed and 167,181 damaged, according to the report.
Estimated cost of damage to infrastructure and, mostly to agriculture, amounted to 6.979 billion pesos (157 million U.S. dollars), the report said.
However, the Philippine National Food Authority on Friday assured the public that there will be sufficient rice supply despite the massive devastation.
The agency's stockpile of 920,000 metric tons of rice is good for 28 days to meet the nationwide staple need, said NFA spokesman Rex Estoperez.
Fengshen entered the Philippines from the eastern Samar island on the night of June 20 and exit through the western coast of Central Luzon after two days' onslaught on the archipelago.
Editor: Mu Xuequan

48 from Philippine ferry survive, at least 67 confirmed dead.

This is from Xinhua.
No doubt there are many more bodies in the ferry to be recovered. Perhaps a few survivors will be rescued elsewhere but it looks as if the vast majority must have perished. This tragedy could have been avoided had the ship not been allowed to set sail when authorities knew that Fengshen was on its way.


48 survive, 67 fatalities confirmed in Philippines sea mishap
MANILA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Coast Guard said Tuesday the situation of 115 people of the 862 on board of a capsized ferry have been known. Forty-eight survived and 67 have been killed.
Beside them, the conditions of the remaining passengers and crew are still unknown and are considered missing, said Coast Guard spokesman Armand Balilo in a press briefing.
On its way from Manila to Cebu, the 23,800-ton M/V Princess of the Stars sank off the Philippines' central province of Romblon at the height of Typhoon Fengshen, which lashed the archipelago from east to west over the weekend.
There were 862 people on board, including "751 manifested passengers and 111 crew members", according to the Sulpicio Lines company, owner of the ill-fated vessel.
Reports said divers have brought three bodies to the surface and spotted at least another 15 floating inside the capsized ferry as they managed to enter the vessel after several failed attempts.
The spokesman said authorities are still verifying the reports.
Earlier, Philippine Navy spokesman Edgard Arevalo said bodies were seen when Navy and Coast Guard divers entered the ship at 9 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Tuesday.
"Most of the bodies were floating inside. They were trapped when the ship suddenly tilted and capsized," Arevalo said.

Typhoon Fengshen sinks ferry and kills at least 155 in the Philippines

This is from AP.
The authorities were surely remiss in letting the ferry set sail given that a typhoon was approaching. I was away for the weekend and just learned of the typhoon today. It seems that the area where our relatives live was relatively unscathed as the typhoon changed course. Deforestation of hillsides causes many of the mudslides that bury people and increase the number of casualties.

Red Cross: 155 dead in Philippines typhoon
17 hours ago
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine Red Cross says the death toll from Typhoon Fengshen has risen to at least 155.
The storm has submerged entire communities in torrential downpours and setting off landslides.
In addition to the dead, more than 740 passengers and crew from a passenger ferry that ran aground Saturday were missing. Only four survivors from the ship have been found so far.
Sen. Richard Gordon, head of the national Red Cross, says the figure of 155 dead is based on field reports from his staff.
He said Sunday he has asked U.S. authorities for help in finding possible survivors inside the ferry.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A rescue ship battling huge waves and strong winds on Sunday reached a passenger ferry that capsized in Typhoon Fengshen, but found none of the more than 700 people who were on board. The storm has submerged entire communities in the Philippines and left at least 80 people dead.
The ferry, one end jutting out of the water, went down in the rough waters Saturday and had been out of radio contact for more than 24 hours.
"They haven't seen anyone. They're scouring the area. They're studying the direction of the waves to determine where survivors may have drifted," coast guard spokesman Lt. Senior Grade Arman Balilo said. Three survivors had made it to land earlier.
Many of the passengers were feared dead after villagers found four bodies, children's slippers and life jackets that washed ashore near where the MV Princess of Stars had stalled. Port captain Nestor Ponteres said the ferry's owner, Sulpicio Lines, had lost radio contact with the ship.
The dead, including a man and a woman who had bound themselves together, were believed to have been on the vessel, which initially ran aground a few miles off central Sibuyan island Saturday, then capsized, said Mayor Nanette Tansingco of San Fernando on Sibuyan island.
At least three survivors from the ferry were found in Sibuyan's Mabini village and police were ordered to go there. But all the roads to the village, where many houses were washed away by huge waves, were blocked by toppled trees, Tansingco told DZBB radio.
She appealed for food, medicine and formalin — an embalming fluid — apparently expecting many deaths in her town. The ferry's bow could be seen from her town, she said.
The typhoon lashed the central Philippines for about four hours Saturday, setting off landslides and floods, knocking out power and blowing off roofs.
Packing sustained winds of 74 miles per hour and gusts of up to 93 mph, the typhoon shifted course Sunday to the northwest and battered Manila at dawn, dumping heavy rain on the capital.
TV footage showed rescuers holding on to a long rope to pluck three people from raging floodwaters. The three were trapped on top of a partially engulfed van in a village in Iloilo province, where the governor said 59 people had drowned. In nearby village, residents pulled out a body from a muddy field then lays it beside another they found earlier. Gov. Neil Tupaz said another 40 people were missing in the province.
"Almost all the towns are covered by water. It's like an ocean," Tupaz said, adding thousands have been displaced in the central province that is home to 1.7 million people.
Rescue vessels aborted an initial attempt Saturday to get to the 23,824-ton ferry, but efforts resumed in stormy weather Sunday, coast guard chief Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said, although churning seas kept smaller vessels away. Four coast guard ships and three from the navy were being deployed, and the air force was asked to send aircraft as soon as the weather clears.
The ferry — with 626 passengers and 121 crew members on board — was "dead in the water" after its engine failed around noon Saturday, Tamayo said.
About two dozen relatives trooped to the Manila office of Sulpicio Lines, some quietly weeping as they waited for news about the fate of their loved ones. "I'm very worried, I need to know what happened to my family," said Felino Farionin, his voice cracking. His wife, son and four in-laws were on the ferry.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo directed the defense and local government departments to stand by for relief and rescue missions before she left for the United States late Saturday.
Arroyo later talked to officials in a teleconference aired live on nationwide radio, scolding coast guard officials for allowing the ferry to leave Manila late Friday despite the bad weather.
Ferries are the main form of inter-island transportation in the sprawling Philippines archipelago, site of the world's worst peacetime maritime disaster when the ferry MV Dona Paz sank after colliding with the fuel tanker MT Vector five days before Christmas in 1987, killing more than 4,341 people.
In southern Maguindanao province, at least 14 people drowned in flash floods Saturday, including 10 swept away from riverside homes, said provincial administrator Norie Unas. Five others were missing.
A 50-year-old man and his 10-year-old grandson were killed when a landslide buried their hillside shanty in Cotabato city Saturday, Mayor Muslimin Sema said.