10.7K liters of oil removed from sunken ship so far
MORE than 10,000 liters of oil have so far been siphoned off from the sunken MT Terranova in the ongoing recovery operations off Bataan.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said 2,500 liters of oil were collected on Monday bringing the total to 10,707 liters.
The contracted salvor, Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc., used an extra oil booster pump to enhance the siphoning pump's efficiency.
BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) conducted area assessment and sprayed dispersant to patches of oil monitored at 500 meters off ground zero. Philippine Coast Guard PhotoHarbor Star also continued hot-tapping operations and siphoning tests. It also installed the boring machine and started hot tapping for the final cargo oil tank (COT).
The PCG earlier said that when the siphoning operation is this slow, even if it is carried out 24/7 for a week by Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc., it will take approximately 73 days to extract all the 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil that MT Terranova was carrying before it sank off Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan, last July 25.
Meanwhile, Coast Guard personnel patrolled the nearby shoreline of Barangay Cabcaben, Mariveles, Bataan, where MTKR Jason Bradley capsized for possible traces of oil spill and yielded a negative result.
AdvertisementThe PCG said BRP Malamawi (FPB-2403) conducted sea surface surveillance to assess the sunken motor tanker's situation.
It said a thin layer of oil sheen was observed in the vicinity waters.
The PCG further reported that the FES Challenger performed diving operations to facilitate patching activities in the steering of the sunken tanker.
On the other hand, Coast Guard personnel continued coastal foot patrol to monitor MV Mirola 1's situation.
AdvertisementThe PCG said the contracted salvor, Morning Star, initiated wooden plugging before pumping out seawater from the vessel's hull.
