MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday began the initial siphoning process for the industrial fuel oil in the sunken motor tanker Terra Nova in Manila Bay, which caused an oil spill.
In an online press conference, Coast Guard Station Bataan Commander Michael John Encina said the PCG is now in the “process of identifying the flow rate of the oil before we start the full-blown siphoning.”
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When asked if this means the PCG is now beginning to remove the oil from the motor tanker, Encina said: “We are [beginning the removal of oil] through this initial siphoning procedure.”
Encina, however, could not yet say the exact date of the full-blown siphoning.
Last July 25, MT Terranova, carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil, capsized and eventually submerged off Bataan, killing a crew member.
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The spillage spread up to the coasts of Manila and nearby provinces.
Encina said the PCG would siphon all of the fuel before bringing the ship to the shoreline.
“We will still bring it to the shoreline but the intention is to siphon all of the contaminants before we proceed to salvage operation and bring it to a safer place,” he said.