The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is actively responding to a maritime incident involving the Philippine-flagged Motor Tanker (MT) Terra Nova, which capsized and submerged 3.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan, at approximately 1:10 AM today, 25 July 2024.
The distressed vessel, en route to Iloilo, was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil (IFO). According to PCG Spokesperson, CG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, the PCG is investigating whether there were any weather disturbances in the area at the time of the incident. As of now, 16 of the 17 crew members have been rescued, with four of them receiving further medical attention.
The BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) is currently searching for the remaining missing crew member. An aerial survey by the Coast Guard Aviation Command has identified an oil spill 5.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point, with the slick covering an estimated two nautical miles and drifting east to northeast.
In response to the oil spill, PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan, has deployed three 44-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) to assist in the cleanup operations. These vessels will apply oil dispersants to mitigate the spill’s impact while preparations for siphoning the oil from the sunken tanker are underway. The PCG aims to complete the siphoning process within seven days to prevent further environmental damage.
Rear Admiral Balilo confirmed that no Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) was active over Bataan when MT Terra Nova departed, indicating that the vessel complied with maritime regulations. The sunken tanker rests at a depth of 34 meters, which is relatively shallow, making the siphoning operation less technically challenging. The PCG is collaborating with Oil Spill Response Organizations (OSROs), oil companies like Petron, the PCG Auxiliary (PCGA), and local government units (LGUs) to bolster the response efforts.
The PCG is ensuring that the response operations follow the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP), coordinated by the Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM) led by CG Vice Admiral Roy Echeverria. At around 3 PM today, the BRP Melchora Aquino located the body of one of the missing crew members in the vicinity waters off Limay, Bataan.
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