In a bid to avert a potential environmental disaster, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is containing an oil spill from the sunken motor tanker (MT) Terranova through siphoning its cargo of 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil which is expected to be finished within seven days.
The PCG has coordinated with the ship owner, Pasig City-based Shogun Ships Co. Inc., to plan the siphoning operations, according to PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo.
Balilo said a meeting between the PCG and officials of Shogun along with the company’s chosen salvage company was scheduled at 1 p.m. on Friday for the presentation of the detailed plan of the siphoning operation as well as the timeline for its completion.
“Sa pagtantya po ng Marine Environmental Protection personnel natin, kapag nasimulan ‘yung pagsiphon ng langis, kayang tapusin within seven days (Based on the estimates of our Marine Environmental Protection personnel, if the siphoning of oil starts, it can be done within seven days),” Balilo told reports on Friday, July 26.
The start of the actual operation has yet to be determined.
Balilo said the PCG observed oil sheen and oil slick from the spilled working fuel (diesel) of the tanker. The cargo IFO remains secured, Balilo noted.
He said the PCG installed oil dispersant and collected the emulsified oil for investigation.
"Nakakatakot ito [IFO] kapag tumagas (It's frightening if this [IFO] leaks)," the PCG spokesman admitted. "Kung ito 1.4 million [liters], imagine kung anong effect at ang hangin papuntang Manila, hindi magiging maganda (If this involves 1.4 million [liters] and the wind is directed towards Manila, imagine its effect, it will not be good)."
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan directed the deployment of three 44-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRV) in Limay to augment the ongoing oil spill response operations.
“These vessels will start the application of oil dispersants to immediately mitigate impact, especially during the period where siphoning is being prepared,” Gavan explained.
The vessel sank 34 meters deep around 1:10 a.m. on Thursday which is considered to be a “shallow” depth by the PCG.
“Siphoning will not be very technical and can be done quickly to protect the vicinity waters of Bataan and Manila Bay against environmental, social, economic, financial, and political impacts,” Balilo said.
The PCG has been working with several Oil Spill Response Organizations (OSRO) that expressed their intention to assist in the ongoing oil spill response operations. Oil companies such as Petron, as well as the PCG Auxiliary (PCGA), and local government units also volunteered to help.
Balilo assured that the oil spill operations will be conducted in accordance with the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP) – an interagency and public-private partnership approach on combatting oil spill, headed by the Vice Adm. Roy Echeverria, commander of PCG’s Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM).
Crew dies
Relatedly, a crew member of MT Terranova who was earlier reported missing when the tanker sank has already been found dead.
Second Mate (2/M) Alvin L. Llandelar, 40, was found lifeless and his body was retrieved in the vicinity waters off Limay at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, during operations by the PCG.
The ship manager of MT Terranova, Portavaga Ship Management, said it “regrets” the death of LLandelar as he was one of its “exemplary marine officers.”
“2/M Llandelar has been with the company since August 2023, but prior to this he had sailed on board international ships for quite a number of years,” said Ms. Leonelle Infante, corporate communications officer of Portavaga Ship Management.
“The company is now in contact with the late marine officer’s bereaved loved ones for the proper transport of the cadaver to Manila. It also assured them that they would receive the due death benefits due him the soonest possible time,” she added.
The remains of Llandelar were turned over to his family on Friday.
The 16 other rescued crew members were already turned over to their respective families after receiving treatment for their minor injuries.