The re-floating of sunken barge Castor II, which is still located right off the coast of Barangay Bilisan in Panglao, will take two months according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The PCG already told the vessel’s owner Concrete Solutions, Inc. to hasten the re-floating, said Lt. Benjie Quinisio, station commander of the PCG in Tagbilaran City.

He noted the need for the barge to be re-floated immediately as this may cause damage to marine life in the area.

Castor II was reportedly run aground intentionally as a result of poor weather conditions and strong currents on July 2, 2016.

The 19 crew members of the vessel were unharmed and successfully rescued by tugboat MT Pollux 5.

The barge which carried P700,000 worth of sand traveled from Tampi in Dumaguete City and was bound for the Tagbilaran City port before it ran aground. (With reports from Rey Tutas)