Officials inspect Chinese dredging vessel in Batangas

April 2, 2019

A Chinese vessel was seen offshore near a protected marine area in Batangas last Friday, a report by police and Coast Guard said Tuesday.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Lobo municipal police and the Batangas Provincial Police Office inspected the dredging vessel in waters of Barangay Lagadlarin, Lobo.

Police said upon inspection, authorities found no violations committed.

In a report, Lt Gen Gilbert Gapay, head of the Southern Luzon Command, the ship will be used for dredging and desilting of the Lobo River and nearby estuaries.

This is covered by an approved contract between Lobo municipality and Seagate Engineering and Buildsystems. The Coast Guard is monitoring the vessel. said Gapay.

According to Lobo municipal police station, authorities inspected the vessel, a Sierra Leone registered ship, after receiving reports from barangay officials it was allegedly dredging sand at the protected marine area.

Nine Chinese nationals were in the vessel. Police said they were Li Yongping, captain; Wang Lei, chief officer; Zhao Zhaoyin, second officer; Du Zhengxu, chief engineer; Cheng Jiaki, engineer; Cai Yueliang, engineer; Zhao Xiang, oiler; and Tang Shilin, Du Qingcheng, Li Long, and Chen Niudi, cook. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS