PCG confirms industrial fuel oil spill from sunken motor tanker in Oriental Mindoro

The oil spill from a sunken motor tanker in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, had industrial fuel oil, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed on Thursday.
 
Initially, the PCG reported that the oil spill was only diesel fuel from the motor tanker MT Princess Empress.
 
“Kinumpirma ng PCG na may halo na ring industrial fuel oil ang oil spill sa katubigan ng Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, ngayong araw, ika-2 ng Marso 2023,” the PCG said in an update.
 
(The PCG confirmed today, March 2, 2023, that the oil spill in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, also includes industrial fuel oil.)
 
MT Princess Empress was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil.
 
Earlier, PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said authorities were watching out for the spill of industrialized fuel oil because this material could be destructive to marine ecosystems.
 
He said that the industrialized fuel oil wasn't placed in sealed containers but was loaded directly into the motor tanker.
 
“Kapag lumubog ang isang barko maaaring maapektuhan yung kanyang integrity, yung structure at maaaring magkaroon ng butas at ang langis na laman nito ay bumulwak dahil sa pressure,” he said.
 
(A ship's structural integrity may be compromised during sinking, and it may develop a hole through which oil will leak under pressure.)
 
According to Balilo, the motor tanker sank 400 meters, which was too deep for divers to reach.
 
The PCG continues to apply dispersant in affected waters.
 
The coast guards observed "patches of emulsified oil" based on their shoreline assessment in Pinamalayan, and the oil spill has also reached the waters off Sibale Island.
 
At least three towns—Naujan, Pola, and Pinamalayan—were affected by the oil spill, the PCG earlier said.
 
Based on the initial investigation, the motor tanker sank after its engine overheated and experienced failure amid bad weather and strong waves on Tuesday. — VBL, GMA Integrated News