The body of the missing crew member from the capsized motor tanker in Bataan has been located by the BRP Melchora Aquino at around 3:00 PM, Thursday.
The MT Terra Nova was departing from the vicinity waters off Limay, Bataan en route to Iloilo when it submerged 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point at around 1:10 AM, Thursday. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that all but one of the 17 crewmen onboard were rescued.
Following its occurrence, PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Ronnie Gavan directed the deployment of three 44-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) to heighten the ongoing response operations.
"These vessels will start the application of oil dispersants to immediately mitigate impact, especially during the period where siphoning is being prepared," CG Admiral Gavan explained.
The PCG targets to finish siphoning the oil from the sunken tanker within seven days.
"The vessel sunk 34 meters deep which is considerably shallow. Siphoning will not be very technical and can be done quickly to protect the vicinity waters of Bataan and Manila Bay against environmental, social, economic, financial, and political impacts," CG Rear Admiral Balilo stated.
Moreover, based on the investigation, no Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) was raised over Bataan at the time of incident. Hence, it did not violate any rules and regulations on the movement of vessels during heavy weather.
Several Oil Spill Response Organizations (OSRO) extended their assistance on the ongoing oil spill response operations by the PCG. Oil companies such as Petron, the PCG Auxiliary (PCGA), and LGUs also volunteered to help.
The operations would be conducted in accordance with the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP), headed by CG Vice Admiral Roy Echeverria, the Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM) Commander.
