Ang Pahayagan

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, CG Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan, has directed the deployment of three 44-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) to augment the ongoing oil spill response operations in Bataan.

This occurred following the sinking of Philippine-flagged Motor Tanker (MT) Terra Nova 3.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan, at around 1:10AM today, 25 July 2024.

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

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

PCG Spokesperson, CG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, shared that based on the investigation, there was no Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) raised over Bataan when MT Terra Nova departed from Limay, Bataan carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil (IFO). Hence, it did not violate rules and regulations pertinent to the movement of vessels during heavy weather.

“The vessel sunk 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,” CG Rear Admiral Balilo said.

As of press time, the PCG is working with several Oil Spill Response Organizations (OSRO) that expressed their intention to assist in the ongoing oil spill response operations. Oil companies, like Petron, the PCG Auxiliary (PCGA), and LGUs also volunteered to help.

CG Rear Admiral Balilo added the PCG will ensure the operations will be conducted in accordance with the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP) – an interagency and public-private partnership approach on combatting oil spill, headed by the PCG’s Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM) Commander, CG Vice Admiral Roy Echeverria.

At around 3PM today, 25 July 2024, the BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) has located the body of MT Terra Nova’s missing crew in the vicinity waters off Limay, Bataan.

📸PCG