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Manila Bulletin devider devider Chinese shipowner apologizes over Reed Bank boat sinking

Chinese shipowner apologizes over Reed Bank boat sinking

Published Aug 28, 2019 04:14 pm
By Roy Mabasa The owner of the Chinese fishing vessel that rammed Filipino fishing boat F/B Gimver 1 with 22 Filipino fishermen onboard in Recto Bank last June 9 has expressed his “sincere apology” for the “accidental collision,” more than two months after the accident. Photos of the damaged Filipino fishing vessel F/B Gimver 1 is shown next to one of it's crew Richard Blaza during a press conference by Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol in Manila, Philippines on Monday, June 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila / MANILA BULLETIN) Photos of the damaged Filipino fishing vessel F/B Gimver 1 is shown next to one of it's crew Richard Blaza. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The shipowner’s apology was contained in a memo to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. dated August 28, 2019, a copy of which was posted on Twitter by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The DFA described the content of the memo as “Embassy’s (Chinese) translation of a key portion of the letter.” “The shipowner of the Chinese fishing vessel involved, through our Association, would like to express his sincere apology to the Filipino fishermen,” the Chinese side said in the translated portion of the letter. The identity and exact origin of the letter sender is not yet clear as of press time as both the Chinese embassy in Manila and the DFA have yet to issue their respective reply to media queries. Based on the memo, the incident was an “accidental collision” between the Chinese and a Philippine fishing boat that caused the latter to sink together with all its crewmembers It further stated that after the accident, the Chinese fishermen association “timely asked” for information from the shipowner, ship captain, and crew of the fishing boat involved and “investigated the accident.” Initial reports received by Philippine authorities hours after the incident revealed that the Chinese vessel hurriedly left the area, leaving the Filipino fishermen that exposed them to the elements of the sea. Luckily, a nearby Vietnamese vessel rescued all the Filipino fishermen. “We believe that, although this accident was an unintentional mistake of the Chinese fishermen, the Chinese fishing boat should, however take the major responsibility in the accident,” the Chinese side was quoted saying in the memo. Furthermore, it asked the Philippine side to “file a specific appeal for civil compensation based on the actual lost.” “Our Association will urge the shipowner of the fishing boat involved to actively coordinate with the Philippine side to expedite the latter’s claim for compensation according to the procedures for insurance claim,” the Chinese said
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