The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has found very minimal to unnoticeable oil sheen in the shorelines of Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Cavite following the sinking of an oil tanker on Thursday.
Based on the PCG’s aerial survey on Tuesday, the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPF) said social media reports showing videos or photos of oil sheen in these areas were not indicative of the actual aerial view.
However, the ITOPF confirmed that there were oil sheens observed at ground zero—where Motor Tanker (MT) Terra Nova sank.
In a message to reporters, PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the PCG aerial survey team used a helicopter to monitor these shorelines.
“The aerial survey team checked the vicinity waters of Limay, Bataan, and observed minimal oil sheens. The team also monitored the same when they checked the vicinity waters of Bulacan and Cavite,” Balilo said.
On Monday, PCG ships and contracted vessels continued to use water cannons to agitate the oil sheens and accelerate the weathering effect in affected areas of the oil spill based on the technical advice of the ITOPF.
PCG and PCG Auxiliary (PCGA) personnel began laying oil spill booms and improvised oil spill booms in areas projected to be affected by the leak.
These improvised oil spill booms are made out of 1,500 coco logs and 1,500 bags of coco peats to be delivered to Pampanga, Bulacan, and Bataan.
The PCGA is also working with the Municipal Environment and National Resource Office (MENRO) – Ternate and PCG Station Cavite to produce improvised oil spill booms made from used clothes.
On Thursday, MT Terra Nova sank off the coast of Limay, Bataan while carrying 1.4 million liters of fuel.
The PCG said it will start the siphoning of the tanker’s cargo within a week.
To date, the PCG has rescheduled the siphoning operation to work on sealing nine of the ship’s valves that were leaking oil. (PNA)
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