PH Coast Guard seals 14 leaking valves of sunken tanker in Manila Bay

A thick layer of oil can be seen across the water’s surface approximately four kilometers from the coastline in Tibaguin Island, Hagonoy, Bulacan. The oil spill from capsized MT Terra Nova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of oil, is now affecting the municipal waters of several areas, including Bulacan, Cavite, and Bataan. Greenpeace is calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to make oil and gas companies pay for polluting our waters and fueling the climate crisis. Fishing nets coated in oil show the devastating impact of the spill on local fisherfolk and communities who have yet to recover from the impacts of Super Typhoon Carina.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Harbor Star divers on Sunday sealed 14 leaking valves of the sunken motor tanker in Manila Bay, the agency said on Monday.

The PCG said divers initially found nine leaking valves and detected five more during their operations.

READ: Tanker with 1.4M liters of oil sinks off Bataan; ‘working fuel’ leaks

Divers also put “the second layer of capping bags and sealing” so other valves of Motor Tanker (MT) Terra Nova will not leak.

“The PCG, shipping company, and contracted salvor (Harbor Star) will position and secure the two recovery vessels (barge and motor tanker) on site to commence the siphoning operations tomorrow, July 30, or on Wednesday July 1,” PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said.

Citing Harbor Star, Gavan added that the PCG plans “to siphon 300,000 liters of industrial fuel oil (IFO), which is enough to gain buoyancy and safely tow the sunken vessel to safe a site where the rest of the IFO will be cleared.”

TRAGEDY AFTER THE STORM. The MT Terra Nova sank on July 25, two days before another fuel tanker sank also in the waters of Bataan province. —PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

The contracted salvor said it could siphon “approximately 50,000 to 60,000 liters of IFO daily” and finish within a week.

To aid its recovery efforts, the PCG’s auxiliary force on Monday crafted an improvised spill boom made out of coconut husk to fend off the slick in the affected area.

Improvised spill boom made out of coconut husk. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo assured the public that the leak was manageable or minimal and that its draining process “can be done quickly.”

Last July 25, MT Terra Nova “capsized and eventually submerged” in waters off Bataan province while carrying industrial fuel, authorities said.

The PCG said the oil from the sunken motor tanker started to leak into Manila Bay, spreading about 12 to 14 kilometers across the area.