Fishing vessel runs aground at Northern Reefs

According to Kayangel State Governor, Edwin Chiokai, the ship ran aground on Friday, May 9.  Further, he added that he was not informed of the shipwreck until the following day.The ship currently sits in shallow water about 18 miles northeast of Ollei Port, Ngarchelong and about 10 miles southwest of Kayangel.  The wreckage is located in the proximity of an area of the Northern Reefs known as “Btil Ngkesol.”The traditional chiefs of Ngarchelong learned of the wreckage on the evening of May 12th; and sent a chief and state conservation officers early the following day to pinpoint the location of the ship as well as make informal assessments of damages caused.According to Chief Obak er a Iyebukel Lorenzo Ngiramolau of Ngarchelong, the ship has caused extensive damage to the reef.  Further, its hull is damaged and will most likely leak fuel or oil into the water. Personnel of the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) confirmed Ngiramolau’s assessments on Wednesday, May 13th.  Ngarchelong State Government had requested PICRC to conduct a study on the wreck and make a formal assessment of any damages it has caused.According to Steven Victor, Head of PICRC Research Department, the ship had caused damaged to the reef.  Fortunately, he said, the ship was wrecked at a location that does not contain much coral.  He, however, said that ship poses great danger to the marine life of the Northern Reefs if the ship further breaks apart.  He said that oil and fuel have leaked into the hatches of the ship, which are definite to spill into the water soon.  He said that the oil and fuel will potentially enter the water when the tide is at its lowest level or highest level – during the next full moon.  The oil and fuel will seep through the damaged hull at low tides or would spill over the side of the ship during high tide. Victor further added that the PICRC team that went to the wreck documented – video and still photographs – its entire assessment; and will further review the video and photographs before making its final report.According to Ngiramolau, he had called the Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB) to report the wreck on Tuesday. He said that he had requested that EQPB send a representative to accompany Ngarchelong State officials and PICRC personnel to the wreck site. No one was sent.According to Don Dengokl, EQPB’s assistant director, EQPB did receive reports of the wreck and responded accordingly.  He said EQPB had contacted Billy Graham Kemesong, Kayangel State police officer, for assistance in the matter.  He said that Kemesong was requested to confirm the reports and to call EQPB.Dengokl further added that EQPB does not have the financial capability to be able to respond to every potential environmental threat on a whim. EQPB had not received any reports from Kemesong and had to assume that all was well.“We have to confirm the reports; and we have established a procedure whereby we rely on other public officers to verify the reports, especially those that are in remote areas, before we rush to assess them,” Dengokl said, “ it saves time, effort, and money.”Ironically, the ship got stranded on the day after the Ngarchelong leadership had just concluded a summit in which they had discussed the conservation, protection, and management of the Northern Reefs and its resources.“Someone is trying very hard to hide this shipwreck from the public,” Ngiramolau said, “I will bring this matter to the attention of President Remengesau so that it will be addressed properly