Malacanang urged to form a task group to help the all-Pinoy crew facing probe As Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I urge Malacanang to form a task group, led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, to coordinate and ensure effective and timely action on the ongoing investigation into the deadly collision between the ACX Crystal and the US Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald.
Maritime disaster investigations are complex matters. The task group ought to have experts from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Marina, the POEA, and from the Philippine private sector shipping industry to give the the needed support to the DFA-led task group.
I also urge the DFA to provide continuing and timely public updates, daily as much as possible, about the status of the Filipino crew of the ACX Crystal and of the investigation into the midsea incident between the ACX Crystal and the USS Fitzgerald,
The Philippine-flagged container cargo ship collided with the USS Fitzgerald on June 17 (Philippine Time).
A report by the global news agency Reuters said it took the ACX Crystal almost an hour before reporting the collision to authorities.
Here are some excerpts from the Reuters report (
https://goo.gl/7zcYRy ) :
"The collision happened at around 1:30 a.m. but it was not until 2:25 a.m. that the container ship informed the Japanese coastguard of the accident, said coastguard spokesman Takeshi Aikawa told Reuters."
"He declined to elaborate on why the ship took nearly an hour to report the accident but said it could take ships time to notify authorities as they dealt with more urgent matters."
"Right after being notified of he accident by the container vessel, the Japanese coastguard made contact with the U.S. ship and confirmed it, Aikawa said."
According to NYK Line, charterer of the ACX Crystal, the ship captain is Ronald Advincula and the ship, built in 2008, is owned by the Dainichi-Invest Corporation.
NYK said in a new release it and the shipowner "are fully cooperating with an investigation being conducted by the Japan Coast Guard. More information will be provided when known."
https://goo.gl/1TT5Qn The ACX Crystal is now docked at Tokyo Bay at the No. 6 berth of the Oi Terminal. According to the DFA, "all crew have been instructed to remain onboard pending their interview by Japanese authorities."
https://goo.gl/cQDJ4C We want to be further assured by the DFA that the Filipino crew of the ACX Crystal have proper legal assistance from our Philippine government, not just the lawyers of their manning agency, NYK Line, or Dainichi-Invest Corporation.
The US Navy ship sustained "extensive damage and flooding" as per US Navy Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin.
https://goo.gl/JmuZko The US Navy has reported casualties and has identified them pending notification of their families. We pray for the crew of the USS Fitzgerald and their families and friends.
The US Navy also said the collision will be investigated by the US Navy and the US Coast Guard.
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