Tragedy anew as second tanker sinks off Bataan
Schedule for draining of oil from MT Terranova moved due to leaking valves
Tragedy struck anew as another motor tanker sank off Bataan, the same province where MT Terranova submerged while carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil (IFO), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) disclosed on Sunday, July 28.
PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo identified the second sunken tanker as MTKR Jason Bradley.
MTKR Jason Bradley sank off the coast of Barangay Cabcaben in Mariveles, Bataan on Saturday, July 27.
Details as to why and how MTKR Jason Bradley sank have yet to be determined, according to Balilo.
“There‘s a second tanker that sank off Cabcaben in Mariveles, Bataan. We only received a report about the incident yesterday and we verified it. Diving operations were conducted and it was confirmed that a motor tanker sinks in the area,” he said.
“We have no further details but one of our vessels went to the area and installed oil spill boom because oil sheen was already spotted,” he added.
Apparently, Balilo said the vessel did not seek clearance from the Coast Guard Station Bataan before it set sail.
“We have no details about its origin,” he noted.
What’s clear is that MTKR Jason Bradley has no cargo fuel onboard and salvage operations will be conducted immediately to retrieve the vessel.
“Salvage operations will be done in two weeks,” said Lt. Commander Michael John Encina, spokesperson of the PCG National Capital Region-Central Luzon.
Meanwhile, the schedule for the siphoning of oil from MT Terranova at the ground zero off Limay’s coast was moved on Tuesday, July 30, as divers from maritime service provider Harbor Star Shipping Services found out that there were underwater leaks from the tanks carrying the IFO. The siphoning was supposed to start on July 28.
“The divers found out that there are nine valves leaking from MT Terranova. The order from [PCG Commandant] Admiral [Ronnie Gil] Gavan and as per guidance from the President [Marcos Jr.] is to seal the valves before the siphoning operation starts to prevent further leak,” Balilo said.
Balilo said the divers worked on sealing the valves and finished the application of the second layer of sealant at around 10:42 a.m. Sunday. The target for the completion of the sealing is on Monday.
“As of press time, Harbor Star divers continue to monitor the status of the nine valves and will conclude their operations after confirming absence of IFO leakage on board,” Balilo said.
The PCG also confirmed that the oil spill from MT Terranova has already reached Bulacan as oil sheen was monitored just about four kilometers from the coast of Hagonoy town.
"We can confirm that report. Our people on the ground are also attending to the reported oil spill in Hagonoy," Balilo said.