Working Conditions Aboard the Gold

In a recent maritime transaction, a vessel has been sold to breakers in Vietnam for a price of $354 per ton. This sale reflects the ongoing trend in the market where ships are being retired and sold for dismantling. The decision to sell as-is indicates the vessel's condition and the strategic move by the owners to capitalize on current market rates for scrap material.

On December 27, 2016, the tugboat "La Bella" met a tragic fate in the waters of Zamboanga City, specifically within the Sta. Cruz Strait. The incident occurred around 10 a.m., just 500 meters from the well-known Cawa Cawa Boulevard. In a sudden and unfortunate turn of events, "La Bella" collided with the cargo ship "Gold Eagle," striking its starboard bow against the ship's anchor, resulting in the tug's capsizing. Fortunately, the tugboat was carrying only 100 liters of diesel fuel at the time of the incident, alleviating fears of environmental pollution. Remarkably, there were no reported injuries among the crew. One crew member successfully clung to the anchor and was later rescued, while the other bravely swam to shore to safety.

The Panamanian-flagged vessel 'Gold Eagle' (IMO 9168398) has been detained by Philippine authorities at Barangay Baloganon mining port after it was found loading chromite ore without the necessary permits. This incident is linked to ongoing legal disputes surrounding a chromite mine in Sitio Coto, Barangay Taltal, Masinloc. In July 2010, local police, along with Army personnel and the Zambales Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB), seized control of the chromite mine due to allegations of extensive chromite theft. Although operations at the Coto mine have remained inactive since this raid, a recent court order issued by Zambales Executive Judge Josefina Farrales on January 4 granted Geoking president Ye Zhou permission to retrieve 7,000 metric tons of chromite ore from the site. However, Judge Adoracion Bocar of the Regional Trial Court issued a ruling on January 6 that countered Farrales' decision, leading to confusion among authorities about the legitimacy of the vessel's activities. Officials suspect that the 'Gold Eagle' was involved in exporting the ore belonging to Geoking.