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Sulpicio Lines Inc. on Monday finalized negotiations
with Titan Salvage for the retrieval of hydrocarbons and toxic
chemicals from the sunken MV Princess of the Stars. Company
spokesman and lawyer Victoria Florido said Sulpicio in coordination
with the Department of Transportation and Communications has decided
to assign Titan Salvage, a company operating from main bases in the
USA, UK and Southeast Asia.
“The management of Sulpicio
just wants to diffuse an ecological disaster at the soonest possible
time by taking action. An announcement of the details will be made
by Titan Salvage shortly,” Florido said.
Operation shall commence
following the signing of a contract. Sulpicio would also resume
recovery of casualties as soon as the toxic cargo is safely
extracted.
“There are plans for refloating
or mere cargo retrieval, but again we have always indicated that we
have to cover all angles,” Florido told reporters at the sidelines
of the Board of Marine Inquiry hearing on Monday.
The passenger vessel was carrying
on its cargo hold some 10-metric tons of endosulfan, a dangerous
chemical that is used as pesticide, when it capsized off the coast
of Sibuyan Island in Romblon province.
--Anthony Vargas
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