MANILA, Philippines — Should the industrial fuel oil from the sunken tanker in Limay, Bataan spill, there is a huge possibility that it could reach the Manila shore, the Philippine Coast Guard reported Thursday.
“There is a significant danger that Manila could be affected, including the shoreline, if the fuel leaks, because it is within Manila Bay,” PCG spokesman Armando Balilo told reporters in Filipino during a press briefing following the incident.
Currently, only the tanker’s working fuel is reportedly spilling according to Balilo.
The official said the PCG was now preparing in case the oil spill reached the Manila shoreline, including its environmental impact on the marine biodiversity of the bay.
“This is part of the contingency plans we are preparing for in case the spill reaches Manila, and, as you know, the impact on the marine environment would be adverse,” he said.
Authorities were monitoring an oil spill approximately 5.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point. The spill covers roughly two nautical miles and is drifting east-northeast due to strong currents.
‘Racing against time’
Authorities are now racing against time as they plan to contain the fuel in the tanks before it leaks into the ocean.
“We hope to contain the fuel still in the tanks, so we are racing against time and will do our best to contain it and prevent further leakage,” he said.
In the wee hours of Thursday, the Philippine-flagged motor tanker Terra Nova bound for Iloilo capsized and sank 3.6 nautical miles east off the coast of Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan, at around 1:10 AM.
Compared to the Mindoro oil spill in February 2023, where the motor tanker Princess Empress released approximately 800,000 liters of industrial fuel into the waters off Oriental Mindoro, the Terra Nova tanker poses a greater risk, with a potential leak of 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil.
According to the crews’ account to Balilo, around 10 PM, the tanker encountered strong waves, which led the captain to decide to return. They initially faced struggles returning back because they were heading directly into the waves, causing the ship to capsize.
The PCG also reported that 16 of the 17 crew members on board have been rescued and are receiving medical attention for minor injuries. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the lone missing crew member.
There was no weather disturbance in the vicinity waters when the maritime incident occurred and has issued warning to mariners to avoid the area where the tanker sank, according to the PCG official.
