Philippines rushing to contain environmental disaster after tanker sinks

Philippines rushing to contain environmental disaster after tanker sinks
BenarNews staff 2024.07.26 https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/philippines-rushing-to...

An international environmental group warns of the oil spill’s potential damage to fishing communities.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard conduct cleanup operations following Thursday’s sinking of MT Terra Nova, July 26, 2024 in Manila Bay. [Philippine Coast Guard/Handout]

The Philippines on Friday rushed to contain an environmental disaster after a tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel sank in Manila Bay amid stormy seas whipped up by Typhoon Gaemi.

The Philippine-flagged MT Terra Nova was heading to the central Philippines when it was battered by heavy waves and sank east of Lamao Point in Manila Bay before dawn Thursday.

Coast Guard spokesman Rear Adm. Armando Balilo on Friday said marine environmental protection personnel laid oil dispersants and collected emulsified oil in the vicinity of Terra Nova.

He said the tanker’s cargo has not yet leaked and the oil slick or sheen detected in Manila Bay came from the ship’s engine. Still, he said efforts were underway to prevent what could be a “marine environment catastrophe.”

“Based on our study, considering that the vessel sank 34 meters [nearly 112 feet], we can finish the siphoning within seven days,” Balilo said. “We are still preparing for the worst-case scenario to address the potential negative impact [on] the marine environment.”

Balilo said if the worst-case scenario occurs, their assessment of the oil spill trajectory shows it might affect the waters of the municipalities and provinces of Parañaque, Manila, Navotas, Bulacan, and Pampanga.

“We are utilizing our manpower, mobilizing our resources, consulting with experts, and collaborating with LGUs (local government units) and other stakeholders to avoid a marine environment catastrophe,” said Balilo.

He said three 44-meter multi-role response vessels were deployed to augment the oil spill response.

“These vessels will start the application of oil dispersants to immediately mitigate (the) impact, especially during the period where siphoning is being prepared,” said Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan.

The Department of Transportation on Friday assigned PCG and the Maritime Industry Authority to conduct a joint probe into the incident.

In March last year, MT Princess Empress sank off Naujan, in Oriental Mindoro province with 800,000 liters of industrial fuel. Its 20 crew members were rescued. It was later found and its contents siphoned.

The worst spill in the country was recorded in August 2006 when the tanker M/T Solar 1 sank off the coast of the island province of Guimaras, spilling more than 2.1 million liters of bunker fuel.

Environmentalists have also warned about the potential impact of the spill.

On Friday, an international marine protection organization, Oceana, urged the government to speed up the recovery and cleanup.

The group raised the alarm about the possible damage to the municipal waters of fishing communities that rely on the bay for livelihood.

“The government should immediately assess the effects of the oil spill on the marine environment, including fisheries, ensure that procedures and standards are set in motion and investigate who [is] directly responsible for this maritime incident,” Gloria Estenzo Ramos, the group’s vice president, said.

“All those responsible for failing to prevent this tragedy – from concerned government agencies to private owners of the tanker - should be held accountable. Further, we need to make sure that laws are strictly enforced and appropriate penalties are implemented,” she said.

The accident happened after Typhoon Gaemi and an enhanced seasonal monsoon had caused havoc across Manila and other parts of the country.

Heavy rains led to flooding from Wednesday and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Police and disaster monitors said at least 32 people had so far died, although search operations continued two days later as waters began to subside.

Wednesday’s flooding was the worst to have hit the capital since 2009, when Tropical Storm Ketsana flooded large parts of Manila, resulting in more than 900 deaths.

In November 2013, more than 6,500 people died after Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines and caused massive storm surges.

Jeoffrey Maitem and Jojo Riñoza from Manila contributed to this report.