PCG: Siphoning of fuel from sunken ship in Manila Bay rescheduled

1.4 MILLION LITERS OF FUEL. This Coast Guard photo shows the bow of the tanker Terra Nova as it sank in Manila Bay on Thursday. —PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

MANILA, Philippines — The siphoning of the 1.4 million liters of fuel from a sunken motor tanker in Manila Bay will be rescheduled after sealing nine of the ship’s valves leaking more oil, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Sunday.

In a press briefing, PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo disclosed that divers have confirmed the presence of nine leaking valves in the sunken MT Terra Nova.

READ: PCG vows to drain fuel from sunken ship in Manila Bay within 1 week

“Immediately, the divers worked on sealing the valves, finishing the application of the second layer of sealant at around 10:42 a.m.,” the agency said in a separate statement.

“As of press time, Harbor Star divers continue to monitor the status of the nine valves and will conclude their operations after confirming the absence of industrial fuel oil leakage on board,” it added.

Last July 25, authorities said a Philippine-flagged tanker carrying industrial fuel “capsized and eventually submerged” in waters off Bataan province.

On Saturday, the PCG said the oil from the sunken Motor Tanker (MT) Terra Nova started to leak into Manila Bay, spreading about 12 to 14 kilometers across the area.

But Balilo assured the public that the leak was manageable or minimal and that its draining process “can be done quickly” within a week.