Oil siphoning from Terra Nova nearing completion

MANILA, Philippines — With a little over 100,000 liters of industrial oil left in the sunken motor tanker Terra Nova, the siphoning process is now almost complete, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

The PCG said that of the 1.4 million liters of industrial oil that the tanker was carrying when it sank in the waters off Limay, Bataan on July 25, salvor firm Harbor Star has so far siphoned close to 1.3 million liters of oily materials. 

This means there are only about 103,931 liters of mixed oil and seawater left to be removed.

Siphoning operations were stalled for five days, from Sept. 2 to 6, due to rough sea conditions and strong underwater current caused by Tropical Storm Enteng. 

Salvors resumed the extraction on Saturday and collected 52,355 liters more of oily waste.

The PCG said it conducted an aerial surveillance over the area where the Terra Nova sank to see if an oil leak has occurred.

An oil sheen was spotted during the surveillance near the “ground zero.”

The PCG said the BRP Sindangan is monitorng the oil sheen.