PCG confirms industrial fuel oil leak from sunken tanker

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Sunday that the cargo tanks of the M/T Terra Nova, which sank off Bataan, were leaking industrial fuel oil.

The PCG said divers from Harbor Star, the salvor chartered to work on the Terra Nova, confirmed that nine tank valves were leaking.

The tanks carried 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil.

“Immediately, the divers worked on sealing the valves, finishing the application of the second layer of sealant at around 10:42 a.m.,” the PCG said in a statement.

According to the Coast Guard, Harbor Star divers were continuously monitoring the nine valves. They would finish their operations once they confirm the absence of an industrial fuel oil leak.

“As per the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DOTr Secretary  Jaime Bautista, PCG Commandant CG Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan... Coast Guard units, the concerned shipping company, and the contracted salvor [were directed] to undertake all actions necessary to immediately close all leakages to avoid further adverse impact to the people and the environment,” the PCG added.

Meanwhile, Vonne Aquino reported Sunday on 24 Oras Weekend that the siphoning of the Terra Nova's cargo industrial fuel oil, which was supposed to take place on Sunday, was instead postponed due to the valve leaks.

“Nandoon na yung mga barko, lahat ng equipment na kailangan ng Harbor Star naka preposition na," explained PCG Spokeperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo. "Hindi lang nila magalaw pa... because of the leak. Priority natin na  ma-seal muna yung mga valve, yung mga vents na merong mga leak. Although  yung mga leaks minor lang.”

Balilo added that salvage divers were also having to deal with the inclement weather.

Harbor Star had until Monday to seal the leaks, with the siphoning set to begin on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Atty. Leonelle Infante, the lawyer for the Terra Nova's shipping company Portavaga Ship Management Inc., said that the tanker that would receive the industrial fuel oil siphoned out of the Terra Nova was ready and waiting in Bataan.

On Sunday morning, the Harbor Star barge that carried the personnel  and machinery needed for the siphoning operation was at the seafront.

Preparations were also being made that the operation was carried out safely.

The salvage team said they took immediate action to stop the Terra Nova leak and they were also making sure that the tanker remained stable.

Meanwhile, Balilo said that the size of the spill had shrunk to two to three kilometers long from the 12 to 14 kilometers seen on Saturday.

"Maaaring yung iba nagpuntahan na sa ibang lugar at yung iba nag-disperse na because, yun na nga, may ginamit na tayong  dispersant.” explained the Coast Guard spokesperson.

The PCG also confirmed that part of the oil spill was seen four kilometers from the Hagonoy, Bulacan coast as seen in an aerial photo taken by the Greenpeace environment group.

Booms had been placed around this section of the spill and dispersants had been sprayed.

No oil spills were spotted off Batangas, Manila, and Pampanga.

Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga had warned that the oil spill may affect Bulacan, Cavite, and Pampanga.

Nevertheless, the PCG urged fishermen to follow the imposed fishing ban.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said they would sample the fish in areas affected by the oil spill to determine if there was a need to declare a fishing ban.

Aside from the Terra Nova, the PCG was also dealing with another sunken motor tanker, the MTKR Jason Bradley.

The PCG confirmed that it was the Jason Bradley that sank off  Barangay Cabcaben, Mariveles, Bataan on Saturday afternoon. 

The Bradley was loaded with “diesel cargo” of an unknown quantity, contrary to the shipping company’s report that the vessel had no cargo on board.

The Coast Guard reported on Sunday evening that they discovered leaks on the vessel, but their divers were able to cap these off.

The PCG response team was now working on removing the diesel cargo with the help of a contracted salvor. — DVM, GMA Integrated News