MV Mirola 1 successfully towed, moored at Bataan shipyard — PCG

The MV Mirola 1, which grounded in the waters of Barangay Biaan in Mariveles, Bataan three weeks ago, was successfully towed and is now moored at a shipyard in Barangay Alas-asin, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Friday.

In an update as of Thursday evening, the PCG said MV Mirola 1 was moored at Diving Industry Shipyard for retrofitting and repair.

PCG's BRP Panglao provided security and conducted drone aerial surveillance during the towing operation for the vessel.

The grounded MV Mirola 1 was floated last Thursday after contracted salvor Morning Star conducted patching and repairs on the former's hull. The salvor also extracted seawater to refloat the vessel.

Last July 31, MV Mirola 1—an unregistered vessel that did not have clearance before sailing—ran aground in the vicinity waters of Sitio Quiapo in Barangay Biaan.

The PCG placed MV Mirola 1 under its custody to undergo further inspection and to determine if it committed more violations. The coast guard has summoned the owner of the vessel.

Oil spill control efforts are also ongoing for two other vessels which sank off Bataan. These vessels are the MTKR Terranova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial oil fuel oil, and the MTKR Jason Bradley, which sank off Barangay Cabcaben in Mariveles.

A siphoning operation is still being carried out for MTKR Terranova.

For the MTKR Jason Bradley, contracted salvor Fes Challenger conducted resealing and patching of the manhole and air vents in preparation for the refloating operation.

The PCG and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are looking into whether the three ships in the Bataan oil spill are involved in oil smuggling. The owners of MTKR Terranova have denied involvement in such activity.

Due to the impact of the oil spill, a state of calamity was declared in the entire province of Bataan as well as in nine cities and towns in Cavite. — VDV, GMA Integrated News