2,500 liters of oil removed from sunken MT Terranova, says PCG

FILE PHOTO: The MT Terranova sank on July 25, 2024, two days before another fuel tanker sank also in the waters of Bataan province, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Photo from PCG

MANILA, Philippines — Around 2,500 liters of oil were already extracted from the sunken Motor Tanker (MT) Terranova, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Friday.

MT Terranova was one of three ships that sank in Manila Bay last month.

“Approximately 2,500 liters of oil were extracted,” the PCG said in an update regarding recovery operations for MT Terranova.

Last July 25, MT Terranova, capsized and eventually submerged off Bataan, killing a crew member. The cargo ship was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil.

Its fuel leak spread up to the coasts of Manila and nearby provinces.

READ: PCG begins initial siphoning of oil from sunken tanker in Manila Bay

The PCG said it is continuing efforts to arrest MT Terranova’s oil slick, noting that its personnel have sprayed dispersants on oil that escaped the oil spill booms.

“The Coast Guard’s Marine Science Investigation Force collected another batch of oil samples, as the contracted salvor continued clearing of debris and preparing equipment for the operation,” it further said.

Aside from MT Terranova, MT Jason Bradley and Motor Vessel (MV) Mirola 1 sank in Manila Bay last July.

MT Jason Bradley sank on July 27 while MV Mirola 1 ran aground on July 31, which eventually led to its capsizing.

The PCG said its personnel patroled the shoreline of Barangay Cabcaben, Mariveles, Bataan, to observe possible traces of oil spill due to MT Jason Bradley.

The contracted salvor for MV Mirola is also preparing equipment to transfer the grounded vessel while oil samples were also collected for analysis, according to authorities.

MT Jason Bradley and MV Mirola 1 are not registered and went on to sail even without clearance from the PCG, according to Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez.