Search and retrieval operations on the capsized ferry suspended due to pesticide inside

Miami
June 27, 2008
Story 1: Search and retrieval operations on the capsized ferry suspended due to pesticide inside

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has announced the suspension of search and retrieval operations on the capsized passenger vessel in Sibuyan Island after the authorities received information that tons of pesticide were inside the ferry.

Vice-President Noli de Castro together with the NDCC, Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) held an emergency meeting early morning of Friday because of the situation.

“On this day, we decided to abort the search and retrieval operations because of the problem on the pesticide inside the ship which can also affect our divers,” De Castro said in a press conference.

The MV Princess of the Stars is carrying a 10 metric tons or 10,000 kilos of endosulfan. As explained by Bautista, the chemical was put in a box inside 40-foot container. “The box is being covered by a plastic but it was not sealed and was only tied with a wire at the top of it,” she said.

The pesticide that was inside the ferry is an endosulfan a kind of pesticide used for pineapple against mites and it was considered as highly toxic chemical.

According to DOTC Undersecretary Elena Bautista their office received a letter addressed to DOTC Sec Leandro Mendoza from Fertilizer Pesticide Authority (FPA) stating that on June 24, they received a letter from Del Monte Philippines that the MV Princess is carrying the said pesticide. Del Monte said that the pesticides belongs to them.

The said letter from FPA received by the DOTC Thursday afternoon. According to Bautista the FPA gave them two copy of letters from del Monet informing the FPA that the MV Princess is carrying their pesticide and another letter of Del Monte to Sulpicio Lines declaring that there is a toxic substance on their cargo and to take precautionary measures for the environment and for the passengers.

“Obviously, the Sulpicio Lines did not informed the government that there is a pesticide inside the capsized ship, with this information we will make sure that the company will be held liable for this,” De Castro said.

The said pesticides will be brought to Cebu, then from Cebu it was supposed to be brought to Cagayan de Oro where the Del Monte has pineapple plantation.

On the said pres conference, the Philippine Coast Guard will also be under investigation whether they really do not know that there is a pesticide inside the passenger vessel.

“We are checking on that, the ship should get authority or permission from PCG and to declare that they will be carrying hazardous material,” Bautista said.

She also said that it is prohibited for a passenger vessel to carry a hazardous chemical, so if there was no certification from PCG, the Sulpicio Lines did not follow rules and regulations. “It is very that they violated some rules, and what we are confirming now is that the chemical was placed on the same area were the vegetables was placed,” De Castro said.

The said pesticide is not ban in the country but was being categorized as restricted and only those with pineapple industry can have it. Executive Director of the FPA Dr. Norlito explained that only Del Monte and Dole are the only company who can import it in the Philippines.

The endosulfan is being used as pesticide for pineapples against mites, being diluted in a water and to be put directly on the soil.

The pesticide was said to be placed on the other end of the ship, that was being submerged in the water.

About 100 divers that were exposed on the water will be under medical check-up to know if they were being contaminated already also to study on how they can get the pesticide out of the ship.

On Saturday, June 28, some divers with protective gears and expertise on the chemicals will dive at the area to get water samples to check if the endosulfan already diluted in the water. Though they are saying that the endosulfan does not easily dissolve on water.