Tons of limestone ore on two barges accidentally spilled into the sea at Campomanes Bay, a marine protected area, in Brgy. Maricalum, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday Sept. 15.
The barges were B/Big Sun and B/Big Job owned by Asian Shipping Company Corporation, Philippine Coast Guard- Southern Negros Occidental Station Acting Commander James Carbajosa said.
He told DIGICAST NEGROS that the barges stopped at the bay to take shelter due to bad weather.
The barges, that each carried 7,500 metric tons of limestone ore, came from Bohol and were bound to Rio Tuba in Bataraza town, Palawan.
Carbajosa said that due to strong wind the anchor of the marine vessels ran aground causing the barges to tip and spill the limestone ore.
The eight crew members of Big Sun and 11 of Big Job were safe and remained on board, he said.
They are still investigating the impact of the spilled limestone, he added.
Carbajosa said that they already asked for assistance from the PCG-Western Visayas to conduct confirm the veracity of the incident.*