PCG puts 2nd layer of oil spill boom around MT Terra Nova

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz, Philippine News Agency

FILE: RECOVERY OPS. Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard and contracted salvor, Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. during recovery operations at ground zero where MT Terra Nova sank in this undated photo. The PCG placed a second layer of oil spill booms at the ground zero of the sunken MT Terra Nova to help contain the spread of leaks. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/Facebook)

The oil spill booms were placed by PCG personnel aboard BRP Sindangan.

“Private vessels are also working to stabilize oil spill booms and conducting sea surveillance for possible oil sightings,” it said in a situation update Friday.

Earlier, the vessel had all of its valves and “high-level alarm pipes” capped with capping bags, which will later be replaced with metal caps in two weeks.

The PCG assured that the oil siphoning would begin once these metal caps had been secured.

Meanwhile, the 5,500 liters of diesel oil inside the sunken MT Jason Bradley began being siphoned Friday.

BRP Malapascua is monitoring the vicinity waters of the sunken tanker and is tasked with using oil dispersants when necessary.

On Thursday, the PCG began an oil recovery operation on MV Mirola 1, the last of the three ships that got into trouble in Bataan waters in July.

The ship is aground off Mariveles, Bataan and is equipped with two tankers filled with diesel oil.