The siphoning operation for sunken tanker MTKR Terranova has been extended until Friday, Sept 13, to ensure that the eight cargo oil tanks onboard are no longer carrying oily waste, a ranking official of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
Lt. Cdr. Michael John Encina, commander of Coast Guard Station Bataan, said that the siphoning operation “will be completed on Friday, 13 September 2024 (tentative date) or later” to ensure the recovery of oily waste on all cargo oil tanks, pipelines, and compartments of the sunken vessel.
Prior to this, the PCG gave the contracted salvor, Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc., two weeks to complete the draining of the remainder of 1.4 million industrial fuel oil (IFO) onboard the MTRK Terranova.
The initial siphoning began on Aug. 19 but the full-blown operation started on Aug. 21, which means that the target date of completion was supposed to be on Sept. 3.
However, the target was not achieved due to delays in the operation caused by malfunctioning draining pipes, unloading of oily waste to a treatment facility, and the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Enteng”.
After the storm passed, the siphoning continued and a new target date for the completion of the process was set on Sept. 10. The Harbor Star continued collecting oily waste from MTKR Terranova and based on assessment, most of the recovered waste were seawater.
As of Sept. 10, the Harbor Star has already recovered 1,396,08.58 liters of oily waste from the tanker. The breakdown is as follows:
19 Aug - 2,350 liters
20 Aug - 36,100 liters
21 Aug - 42,026 liters
22 Aug - 81,136 liters
23 Aug - 17,103 liters
24 Aug - 121,724 liters
25 Aug - 101,603 liters
26 Aug - 104,202 liters
27 Aug - 67,871 liters
28 Aug - 232,187 liters
29 Aug - 97,011.58 liters
30 Aug - unloading of oily waste
31 Aug - 129,292 liters
01 Sept - 222,332 liters
02 to 06 Sept - no operations
07 Sept - 52,355 liters
08 Sept - 8,809 liters
09 Sept - 18,826 liters
10 Sept - 61,153 liters
Total: 1,396,080.58 liters
Encina emphasized that the PCG is committed to drain all the oily waste from the tanks, pipelines and compartments of the tanker before it declares that the siphoning operation is finally complete.
MTKR Terranova sank off Limay, Bataan on July 25 amid rough weather condition. A crew member died while 16 others were rescued.