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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sunken tugboat contains 9800 liters of oil – PCG

Sunken tugboat contains 9800 liters of oil – PCG

Published Sep 5, 2023 07:39 am
Screenshot_2023-09-05-15-34-32-08_7ce04c763914e01b61700c480fb34db2.jpg
PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo (Courtesy of PCG)

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continues to conduct oil spill clean-up operation to extricate approximately 9,800 liters of diesel and lube oil from a sunken motor tugboat in Naga, Cebu.

PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said “MTug Sugbo 2” contained 8,600 liters of automotive diesel oil and 1,200 liters of lube oil when it sank off the Naga Anchorage on Sept. 3.

“At present, we are observing the oil spill incident in Naga, Cebu but as of now, there is nothing to worry about because the vessel contains very minimal oil. It has 8,600 [liters] of diesel oil and 1,200 [liters] of lube oil,” Balilo told reporters in an interview on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

However, Balilo said the lube oil must be immediately contained as it may pose hazard to the marine environment. 

Lube oil is a black substance used to cool and lubricate the components in vessels which are operating in conjunction with each other to prevent frictional wear and other kinds of mechanical stress.

“Lube oil is a solid oil so even if it’s just minimal, we need to recover it because it would still affect marine environment. But its [oil spill] effect is not too intense unlike the MT Princess [Empress],” Balilo said.

Oil tanker MT Princess Empress sank on Feb. 28 off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro while carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil. The incident caused a massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro which spread to Antique, Batangas, and Palawan.

As for the diesel oil carried by MTug Sugbo 2, Balilo said it would dissipate under the heat of the sun or due to waves.

The PCG was alsomaking arrangements for a possible salvage operation to remove the sunken tugboat from the water as it poses a navigational hazard to other vessels.

“We are coordinating with the owners and our goal is to remove it because it may cause another accident as it is blocking the traffic separation scheme in the area,” Balilo noted.

MTug Sugbo 2 sustained a hull damage on its steering portion inside the engine room while traversing the vicinity waters off Naga Anchorage last Sunday. 

Floodwater seeped into the vessel due to a four-inch diameter hole at the starboard quarter. Due to the volume of water, the vessel sank but all 14 of its crew members were rescued.

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MTUG SUGBO 2 PCG Cebu province Armando Balilo
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