MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard said Friday that over 903,000 liters of industrial fuel oil have now been removed from the sunken Terranova tanker in Bataan after 11 days.
In its situation report, the PCG said Harbor Star, the contracted salvor for the oil recovery operations, reported that a total of 903,265.58 industrial fuel oil has been recovered in the sunken tanker as of August 29.
Authorities said that the siphoning operations have been temporarily suspended due to the changing of tanks.
The breakdown of oil recovered:
August 19 – 2,350 liters
August 20 – 36,100 liters
August 21 – 42,026 liters
August 22 – 81,136 liters
August 23 – 17,103 liters
August 24 – 121,724 liters
August 25 – 101,603 liters
August 26 – 104,202 liters
August 27 – 67,871 liters
August 28 – 232,187 liters
August 29 – 97,011.58 liters
This means there are only 496,734.42 liters of oil remaining to be recovered in the sunken tanker.
According to the contracted salvor, the rate of oily waste flow, or the amount of oil siphoned every hour, is roughly 12,437 liters per hour.
The BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) monitored the siphoning operation and conducted aerial surveillance at ground zero. Coast Guard divers also conducted underwater surveys, it said.
Authorities did not report if there are oil sheens observed in ground zero.
The MTKR Terranova sank off the coast of Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan, last July 25, killing a crew member.
The tanker was en route to Iloilo and was carrying a total of 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank.
President Marcos recently announced that fishing can now resume in areas previously affected by the oil spill, particularly in Cavite. He confirmed that the oil spill has been fully contained following the tanker sinking.
