Coast guard deploys team to prevent oil spill in Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines – To prevent damage to marine life and ecosystem at Calapan, Mindoro pier where a vessel partially sunk Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed a team to prevent oil spill in the area.

Commander Fran Eden, acting operations officer of the PCG Southern Tagalog, said they are awaiting the report if the oil spill response team has successfully placed an anti-oil spill boom at the harbor.

The passenger vessel MV Baleno from Batangas was about to dock at 9:30 a.m. when its propeller was damaged and broke off. The vessel tilted to 15 degrees and partially sunk as a result of the accident.

As many as 52 passengers safely disembarked from the vessel.

As of 1:30 p.m., the right side of MV Baleno rested on the seabed.

Eden said the owner of the passenger vessel will shoulder the expenses for the salvage plan that will be approved by the Coast Guard before execution.