US Coast Guard, NOAA to help MTKR Terranova salvage ops — PCG

The United States Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are set to help in the salvage operations of MTKR Terranova which sank and caused an oil spill in Bataan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday.

At a virtual press conference, Coast Guard spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said that the seven-man team from the US will arrive in the country this weekend.

“Kung hindi ako nagkamali (If I am not mistaken), this is composed of the marine environmental protection team of the US Coast Guard and NOAA,” Balilo said.

“They intend to help us doon sa, i-lend yung expertise nila doon sa kina-conduct nating salvage operations (to lend their expertise for our salvage operation),” he added.

On July 25, one crew member died and 16 others were rescued after MTKR Terranova capsized and sank 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point in Limay town, according to the PCG.

At that time, the motor tanker was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil.

Once all valves are sealed, the siphoning operation of oil from the motor tanker may start. Of the 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil, 300,000 liters need to be siphoned to float MTKR Terranova. This would take up to seven days.

Then, the motor tanker will be moved to a shallow area, the PCG said.

PCG Bataan Station commander Lieutenant Commander Michael John Encina said the agency will conduct an investigation first before concluding that the motor tanker owner has liability to the incident.

“For the said liability, like what Rear Admiral Balilo said, we need to conduct first the investigation. And after the investigation, if we collate all the evidence, then we will decide whether the said owner will be liable,” he added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News