COAST GUARD SAYS
Towing of sunken ship would not cause oil spill
By Niña Catherine Calleja
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 18:39:00 07/08/2008
SAN FERNANDO, Sibuyan Island, Philippines -- Towing the sunken MV Princess of the Stars to shore would not cause oil spill because the bunker fuel was contained in the service tank and leakage is not possible, said a Coast Guard official here Tuesday.
Lieutenant Commodore Rafael Bellen, officer in charge of the Oil Spill Response Team of the Philippine Coast Guard, said the townsfolk here should be assured that the oil spill would not take place if the ship is towed.
According to records, the MV Princess of the Stars was carrying 250,000 liters of bunker fuel.
"Only the oil in the base tank could leak but its effect is minimal," Bellen said, noting that they have already placed an oil spill boom around the ship to prevent and contain a possible spillage.
He added that he has not yet seen the salvage plan so he could not speak if towing could prevent the leakage of the ship’s cargo of the toxic pesticide endosulfan.
Meanwhile, San Fernando Mayor Nanette Tansingco said they do not have enough knowledge on the technical aspect but they know it was "well planned and studied."
"As long as towing would be less prone to accident and oil spill, it is okay with us," she said.
Tansingco has ordered San Fernando villagers to gather all coconut husks and save it so they can have an improvised oil spill boom to use.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Coast Guard conducted a demonstration among village chiefs and community leaders on how to make absorbent pads out of coconut husks.
The community leaders were expected to relay the skills learned to their communities.
Tansingco earlier emphasized the preventive measure to be taken and not act when the oil spill is already there.
She said has been sending text messages to the owners of Sulpicio Lines to inquire on what will be done with the sunken vessel.
"We understand that there are many factors to consider. And we are willing to wait. But we have to know, until when?" she said.
She noted that water sampling is conducted everyday and so far, it has yielded negative results.
"We hope they would set a deadline or time frame. If the results of the water sampling are negative of toxic chemicals, should it become the basis to start the salvaging operations?" she asked.
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