Bataan oil spill projected to reach Batangas — UP MSI

The oil leak from the sunken MT Terranova off Limay, Bataan could reach the Batangas  coast in the next two days, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI)  said on Wednesday. 

In its latest projection, the oil from the capsized oil tanker could reach the coast of Lian on Friday, August 1 at 6:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, the spill is projected to reach the town of Calatagan on Saturday, August 2 at 9 a.m., but the said projection is “low confidence.” 

UP MSI explained its projections are based on prevailing ocean currents and weather patterns, but they are only meant to “inform the public on the potential direction of transport of the oil spill and help direct response efforts on the ground.”

“The models don’t take into consideration efforts on the ground to clean-up and remove the oil, and just projects where oil might go from the starting position captured by the satellite image,” the institute explained.

“Models have some levels of uncertainty due to assumptions and limitations, and thus, should be used with caution.”

The MT Terranova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil, was en route to Iloilo when it  capsized 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point in the eastern part of the Bataan peninsula last July 25.

The siphoning operation was postponed as only 18 of the 24 valves were sealed. 

Of the 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil, 300,000 liters need to be siphoned in order to float MT Terranova. The operation could take up to seven days.

A state of calamity was declared over eight towns in Cavite due to the oil spill in Manila Bay.—RF, GMA Integrated News