Body of missing crewman from capsized motor tanker in Bataan found — PCG

The body of the missing crew member from the capsized motor tanker Terra Nova in Bataan was found Thursday afternoon, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Thursday.

“As of 3PM today, 25 July 2024, the BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) has located the body of the missing crew of MT Terra Nova in the vicinity waters off Limay, Bataan,” the PCG said in an update.

MT Terra Nova departed Bataan en route to Iloilo when it capsized 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point in Limay town around 1:10 a.m.

According to the PCG, 16 of the 17 crewmen on board the vessel have been rescued. Four of the 16 individuals required further medical attention.

The 498-ton tanker was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel when it sank in the early hours of Thursday.

The exact cause of the sinking has yet to be determined.

An oil spill was monitored 5.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point with an estimated coverage of two nautical miles, carried by a strong current heading east to northeast.

Marine environmental protection personnel were mobilized to contain the oil spill, according to the PCG.

Three PCG vessels will be  deployed to help in the oil spill response operation.

The body of the missing crew member in the capsized motor tanker Terra Nova in Bataan was found Thursday afternoon, the Philippine Coast Guard said. Photo: PCG @gmanews pic.twitter.com/6VthQquuhW

— Joviland Rita (@jovilandxrita) July 25, 2024

In a statement, Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said they aim to finish siphoning the stored industrial fuel from the motor tanker in seven days.

 “These vessels will start the application of oil dispersants to immediately mitigate impact, especially during the period where siphoning is being prepared,” Gavan said.

“The PCG sets an operational target of seven days to finish siphoning the oil from the sunken tanker to stop further spread,” he added.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the siphoning will not be very technical and can be done swiftly because of the shallow depth where the 22-year old motor tanker sank.

“The vessel sank 34 meters deep which is considerably shallow. Siphoning will not be very technical and can be done quickly to protect the vicinity waters of Bataan and Manila Bay against environmental, social, economic, financial, and political impacts,” he said.

Oil Spill Response Organizations (OSRO), oil companies, and local government units offered help for the oil spill response operations.

The National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP) will be observed in the operations for an interagency and public-private partnership approach in addressing oil spill, the PCG said.

PCG’s Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM) commander Vice Admiral Roy Echeverria will lead the oil responder operations.

Meanwhile, Balilo noted that MT Terra Nova did not violate rules and regulations in connection with the inclement weather as there was no Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) raised in Bataan during the incident. —RF, GMA Integrated News