Only 200K oily waste left to be siphoned off sunken tanker

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday said only 200,000 liters of industrial fuel oil are left in the storage tanks of the tanker Terranova that sank off Bataan last July 25.
Lt. Cmdr. Michael John Encina, commander of the Coast Guard Station Bataan, said the siphoning of the remaining oil could be completed in one or two days, upon the resumption of the operation.

The siphoning operation being conducted by salvor Harbor Star was suspended last Monday due to tropical storm Enteng. The siphoning of the oil began last July 19.
The operation was again ordered suspended by the PCG yesterday, also due to Enteng, “to ensure maximum safety,” according to Encina

Encina, in a radio interview, said the operation was suspended anew as a “precautionary measure,” adding: “The sea condition here in Bataan is not conducive (to the siphoning operation).”

He said the siphoning operation will resume when the weather condition improves.

The PCG, in a statement, said the operation was suspended to avoid possible oil leaks that may be caused by strong current and heavy weather conditions.

The PCG said Harbor Star had focused its attention on transferring the oily waste to a treatment facility in Marilao, Bulacan.

Encina said the siphoning operation has already resulted in the collection of 1.2 million of oily waste since

“There are more or less 200,000 liters of oily waste due to be collected from the sunken motor tanker Terranova,” said Encina during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing.

The vessel was on its way to deliver 1.4 liters of industrial fuel oil to Iloilo, from Bataan, on July 25 when it was battered by huge waves, causing it to sink off Limay, Bataan.

Some of the spilled, affecting Bataan and Cavite. Twenty cities and municipalities were placed under a state of calamity due to the oil spill.