The draining of 5,500 liters of diesel oil from motor tanker (MTKR) “Jason Bradley” officially began on Friday, August 2, in the area where it sank off the coast of Mariveles, Bataan.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said one of its vessels, BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403), was deployed in the vicinity waters of Barangay Cabcaben where MTKR Jason Bradley sank to monitor the waters and utilize oil dispersants to contail oil leaks if necessary.
“It will oversee the siphoning of 5,500 liters of diesel oil on board the sunken motor tanker that will commence today, 02 August 2024,” the PCG said.
The 39-meter tanker was anchored when it was carried by strong current and reportedly sank on July 26 (not July 23 as earlier reported by PCG) during the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Carina”, according to Lt. Cdr. Michael John Encina, commander of Coast Guard Station Bataan.
It sank to a depth of nine meters while resting on a muddy bottom 600 yards away from the shoreline of Barangay Cabcaben.
“We have already talked to the owner of the ship and they have already found a salvor. A ship of the PCG is in the area along with personnel from our maritime environmental protection unit and some divers,” Encina said in a press briefing at the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
After the siphoning, the salvor -- tugboat Challenger -- will salvage MTKR Jason Bradley and the process is expected to take up to two weeks.
PCG battles oil spill from ‘Terranova’; 352K individuals affected in Cavite
Meanwhile, authorities continue to contain the oil spill from another sunken tanker, MTKR Terranova, in Limay, Bataan.
PCG vessel BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) was deployed in the area to secure a second layer of oil spill boom installed in the coastal waters of Limay where the tanker sank while carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil (IFO).
The PCG sad that the installation of another layer of oil spill boom will help disperse the escaping oil from MTKR Terranova. Authorities said less than one liter of oil was leaking from MTKR Terranova.
The siphoning operation for MTKR Terranova was moved two weeks from now as the initial caps used to seal the leaking valves of the tanker, which are made of special type of canvass, will be reinforced with metal caps.
“Private vessels are also working to stabilize oil spill booms and conducting sea surveillance for possible oil sightings,” the PCG said.
The oil spill has reached Cavite.
At present, a total of 352,179 individuals in the coastal barangays of Cavite were affected by the imposition of “No Catch” and “No Sell Zone” for all shellfish in the coastal areas of the province due to the oil spill from MTKR Terranova, according to its provincial disaster risk reduction and management council (PDRRMC).
A total of 25,145 fisherfolks were also affected by the said bans with an estimated loss of income amounting to P17,952,775.65 per day, which is predicted to balloon to P394,961,064.30 in 22 days.
Mirola 1
Meanwhile, authorities were also monitoring the beached cargo vessel MV Mirola 1 in Mariveles town for potential oil slick.
“The Coast Guard Station Bataan monitors the vicinity waters to address possible sightings of oil sheens / slicks,” the PCG said.
PCG personnel have been manually scooping 3,000 liters of diesel fuel from MV Mirola 1, which ran aground in the coastal waters of Mariveles on July 23.