PCG: Vessel sinks off Bataan

Philippine Coast Guard logo. (Photo from PCG/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — A vessel sank off Mariveles town in Bataan province on Saturday afternoon, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Sunday.

The PCG reported that three Coast Guard vessels checked the waters of Barangay Cabcaben and confirmed the presence of the sunken vessel around 5 p.m. on Saturday.

READ: Philippine Coast Guard: Siphoning of fuel from sunken ship rescheduled

“Coast Guard divers conducted an initial underwater assessment earlier today and determined the identification of the vessel as MTKR Jason Bradley. Diving operations are ongoing to determine the status of the sunken vessel,” the agency said.

“No cargo on board — just working fuel. Salvage operations will commence soon — now preparing equipment. Salvage operations will be done in one to two weeks,” it added.

In its updated report, the PCG said the 39-meter motor tanker was loaded with “diesel cargo” of unknown quantity.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo also disclosed that Coast Guard divers conducted capping of leaks they discovered on the vessel, which sunk “nine meters deep (muddy bottom) and 600 yards away from the shore.”

“As of press time, the PCG response team is working on properly removing the diesel cargo with the help of a contracted salvor. The investigation will commence after safely recovering the cargo to avoid negative impacts on the marine environment and nearby coastal communities,” it added.

Authorities said a Philippine-flagged tanker carrying industrial fuel “capsized and eventually submerged” in waters off Bataan last July 25.

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

The PCG assured the public that the oil leak was manageable or minimal and its draining process “could be done quickly” within a week.