RoRo vessel runs aground in marine protected area in Albay

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- A roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel, owned by Santa Clara Shipping Company, ran aground a marine protected area some 1.2 kilometers off the waters of Barangay Rawis, in Libon, Albay last Tuesday (April 24). Nonie Enolva, spokesperson of Bureau of Fisheries Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office, said that “MV Jack Daniel” departed from Port of Pantao, Libon town after its regular maintenance. But the vessel ran aground the marine protected area of Barangay Rawis after underestimating a maneuvering process. Enolva said they cannot determine yet the extent of the damage. “We cannot determine yet the valuation of damage,” she said, adding that the BFAR dive team will conduct damage assessment on corals on Thursday, April 26. The Roro vessel, weighing 795 gross tons with 24 crew members, plies the Pioduran, Albay to Masbate route. It had just completed regular maintenance at Pantao port when the incident happened.