Another Coast Guard vessel joins fight against Bataan oil spill

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said it deployed another vessel to help contain the oil spill off Bataan.

The BRP Gabriela Silang, the second largest vessel of the PCG, has also been sent to the site, according to spokesperson Armand Balilo.

Balilo said the personnel of BRP Gabriela Silang would conduct a marine casualty investigation.

One of the two largest PCG ships in its fleet, BRP Melchora Aquino, was earlier deployed along with three other multirole response vessels.

PCG is giving itself a week to finish draining oil from the sunken  M/T Terra Nova petroleum tanker, Balilo previously said.

The tanker was en route to Iloilo City when it capsized and eventually sank some 3.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan at around 1:10 a.m. on Thursday.

Balilo said 16 of the 17 crewmen on board had been rescued by BRP Melchora Aquino personnel, while the other  crewman was found dead at 3:00 p.m. Thursday.