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Post by EXO on Jan 11, 2007 4:29:29 GMT 8
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2007 9:21:08 GMT 8
I can already make a number of guesses as to what CFI will most likely say about the "Ark":
1. Uhmm, aahh .... it's our own boat that we'll use to patrol the coves and beaches around the island
Back in the mid-90s, I petitioned then Department of the Interior Secretary Rafael "Raffy" Alunan III to provide the Coast Guard Station in Corregidor with a patrol boat because they had none. Not long after, the Commander of the PNP Maritime Command called me to say that they will take action on my request. True enough, they got a boat for the CG station .... a large motorized banca (outrigger boat) in standard Navy gray and livery, equipped with several personal flotation devices. I wonder if the CG has a patrol boat today if that one has presumably deteriorated over the years.
2. Uhmm, aahh .... we'll use the boat for island-hopping tours to Caballo and Fort Drum
3. Uhmm, aahh ... we'll lease the boat to an operator that will ferry visitors from Cabcaben, Bataan or Ternate, Cavite. The existing private bancas are too small and dangerous
4. Uhmm, aahh ... that's not our boat, we're just charging the owner a fee to have it built there.
5. Uhmm, aahh .... ask the Coast Guard.
ANY MORE GUESSES?
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Post by EXO on Jan 11, 2007 17:09:51 GMT 8
If it is to use the boat for boarding tourists on Ft. Drum, or getting them on to Fort Frank, then I for one will be the first to apologize and cheer, "Well done, Sirs!"
Mind you, touring and boarding Ft. Drum / Ft. Hughes could be done by a boat of far less size. I have long advocated an examination of a day-tour of the other Forts as a tourism business development project - but I have no maritime expertise.
Are we all office workers? Is there not someone who can tell us what the unusual features on this boat are for? I can only tell a fishing boat once I see nets!
But wouldn't it have been better handled had there been some way to announce what was being done, and why - rather than leave it a silent super hush hush (pronounced sshhhhhh!) project?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2007 22:43:10 GMT 8
Indeed, this ship-building project is as puzzling as it is mysterious. They've never tried to restrict access to Engineering Dock before. I'm dying to find out what's so special about this boat. In light of recent developments, maybe the lyrics of a song in an old Walt Disney film will give us a clue... Salicadoola, Menchicaboola,
Bippity Boppity Boo!
Put 'em together and what have you got?
Bippity, Boppity Boo!
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Post by EXO on Jan 28, 2007 10:37:08 GMT 8
I've had a look at the boat. It doesn't look robust enough to be a fishing vessel, but I'm no maritime surveyor. One wonders if there is some planning somewhere to commence "slow boat" tours from Cavite to The Rock. Cavite to Ft. Drum? Cavite to Ft. Frank? As CFI are ultimately responsible for the use of the area, and nothing happens on the Rock in respect of which they are not aware, one should be able to expect them to be forthcoming about the plans. Though I won't hold my breath. It's all a matter of finding the right management style, isn't it? The current one is looking a little worn. Keep looking. eXo
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