PCG starts oil recovery ops for MV Mirola 1 in Bataan

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday started an oil recovery operation for MV Mirola 1, which ran aground in Barangay Biaan, Mariveles, Bataan, on Saturday.

In a statement, the PCG said its personnel were manually scooping the spilled oil from the vessel and were transferring the collected oil to large drums that will be taken to a waste disposal facility.

The PCG said this is to prevent adverse effects to the health of residents.

On Wednesday, drone aerial surveillance and shoreline assessment were conducted in the vicinity waters of Sitio Quiapo where MV Mirola 1 was located.

Minimal oil sheens and a light smell of diesel oil were observed in the area, prompting authorities to collect samples for sampling analysis.

Aside from MV Mirola 1, two ships — MTKR Terranova with 1.4 million liters of industrial oil and MTKR Jason Bradley with 5,500 liters of diesel — were found to have leaks after sinking off Bataan waters.

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.

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.

MTKR Jason Bradley sank off the vicinity waters of Barangay Cabcaben in Mariveles on Saturday afternoon, according to the PCG.

Even though diesel can easily dissipate because it is not heavy oil, PCG Bataan Station commander Lieutenant Commander Michael John Encina said they will still conduct a siphoning operation for MTKR Jason Bradley.

A state of calamity was declared in eight towns in Cavite due to the oil spill affecting the areas, Governor Jonvic Remulla said on Wednesday.

Aside from this, Remulla said the provincial government also imposes a “no catch zone” for all shellfish in the vicinity waters of their area. 

Relief goods are set to be distributed to the 25,000 affected fisherfolks in the province. 

Instances of oil spill have been reported in some areas in Bulacan, Cavite, and Metro Manila allegedly due to the sinking of MT Terranova off Limay, Bataan on July 25.

However, the PCG said they have yet to verify such information.

The United States Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are set to help in the salvage operations of MTKR Terranova.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said that the seven-man team from the US will arrive in the country this weekend. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News