The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is actively handling a marine oil spill incident involving the Philippine-flagged motor tanker (MT) Terra Nova, which capsized and sank 3.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan. The MT was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil (IFO) and was bound for Iloilo.
At the time of the incident, 16 of the 17 crew members were rescued and four of them received additional medical attention. CG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, spokesman for the PCG, reported that it is being investigated whether there were adverse weather conditions in the area at the time of the incident.
Three vessels deployed to mitigate oil spill
Currently, the BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) is searching for the missing crew member. An aerial survey by the Coast Guard Aviation Command detected an oil spill 5.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point, with a slick spanning about two nautical miles and moving northeast.
To mitigate the impact of the spillRonnie Gil L. Gavan, commander of the PCG, has deployed three 44-meter Multi Role Response Vessels (MRRVs) to participate in the cleanup operations. These vessels will apply oil dispersants and prepare to remove oil from the sunken vessel, with the goal of completing the operation in seven days to minimize environmental damage.
The Newfoundland vessel capsized and submerged 3.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point. Source: Manila Bulletin Online via YouTube
Comprehensive collaboration to respond to the Terra Nova MT spill
Rear Admiral Balilo also confirmed that there was no active public storm warning (PSWS) over Bataan when the MT Terra Nova departed, indicating that the vessel was in compliance with maritime regulations.
The vessel is at a depth of 34 meters, which facilitates the extraction operation from a technical point of view. The PCG is collaborating with Oil Spill Response Organizations (OSROs), oil companies like PetronThe PCG is collaborating with OSROs, oil companies such as Pe t ron, the PCG Auxiliary (PCGA) and local government units (LGUs) to strengthen response efforts.
The PCG assures that the operations follow the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP), coordinated by the Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM) under the direction of CG Vice Admiral Roy Echeverría. At approximately 3:00 p.m. m. On July 25, the BRP Melchora Aquino located the body of the missing crewman in the waters near Limay, Bataan.
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Source and photo: safety4sea
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