SAN JUAN, Batangas -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported its discovery of an oil spill in the surrounding waters off Subukin Port in Barangay Subukin in this town.
The oil spill which was believed to have come from a tugboat that submerged on Wednesday, Feb 8, within the vicinity of the port, scattered to approximately 300 square meters wide, PCG said.
On Thursday, the PCG Marine Environmental Protection Group-Batangas conducted a vessel inspection and shoreline assessment to determine the impact of the maritime incident.
The said group monitored approximately 30 to 40 liters of oil patches along the shoreline, PCG report added.
As of press time, the PCG personnel and M/TUG STRONG BRAVERY crew were conducting manual oil spill recovery using sorbent pads and empty drums.
The tugboat half-submerged on Wednesday, Feb. 8, due to strong waves. The water flooded inside the motor tug, causing it to submerge, the report said.
The PCG team proceeded to the vicinity waters of Subukin Port and found that all crew members had safely abandoned the motor tug.