Siphoning of sunken tanker’s fuel cargo delayed by 2 weeks

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ALL the valves of the storage compartments of the tanker MT Terra Nova that sank off Bataan Thursday last week have been sealed, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.

But the siphoning of the vessel’s fuel cargo will have to be delayed for another two weeks because the caps, made from special canvass, will have to be replaced with metal, the PCG said.

“It will take them two weeks to complete the procedure,” PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said, referring to the Harbor Star, the salvor company hired by the owner of the ill-fated vessel.

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The PCG said it would take one week to locally fabricate the metal caps and another week to be put in place, the PCG added.

“They are avoiding the risks. The integrity (of the valves) might be affected if we do not replace the canvass type seal that they initially installed,” said Balilo.

“So it’s like redoing the procedure, the process, until we are able to seal the valves with metal caps. They just wanted to ensure that before beginning the siphoning operation, the risks will be eliminated,” he added.

Balilo said there is a risk the valves would leak during the siphoning operation if they are not sealed with metal caps.

“All capping of valves and high-level alarm pipes have been done,” the PCG said in a statement. “The initial capping bags will be replaced with metal caps for durability during siphoning operations and in times of heavy weather.”

The PCG also said the capping bags will be replaced with new ones this week “to avoid undue risks from wear and tear from its exposure to oil.”

Coast Guard Station Bataan commander Lt. Cmdr. Michael John Encina said they used capping bags to seal the 24 valves and the leakage of one gallon of oil per minute.

“Now it’s already been contained using the canvass caps,” said Encina, adding only one liter of oil is leaking from the tanks with the installation of the canvass caps.

“They will be eventually replaced with metal caps,” said Encina, adding the valves will be secured if they are sealed with metal caps, which he said can “resist unfavorable weather conditions.”

Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said they are mulling the possibility of pursuing a class suit against the owner of MT Terra Nova.

Last Wednesday, Remulla said the coastal Bacoor City and towns Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, and Ternate have been placed under a state of calamity due to the oil spill.

“Our entire coastline is affected, our coastline is 111 kilometers (long),” Remulla told a radio interview, adding the oil spill has affected 25,000 fisherfolks.

Remulla said not a single representative of MT Terra Nova has reached out to the province to extend assistance.

“Our lawyers are now studying the filing of a class action suit. It (sinking) may not be intentional but there’s negligence (on their part),” said Remulla.

Remulla said the vessel should not have left Bataan carrying about 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel due to the inclement weather.

The PCG is continuing with its oil response operations for two other vessels that figured in mishaps in Mariveles, Bataan last July 23 — the MTKR Jason Bradley that sank and the MV Mirola Uno that ran aground.

The PCG said a barge containing siphoning equipment is now in Mariveles to siphon off some 5,500 liters of diesel fuel being used to power MTKR Jason Bradley.

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The PCG said the vessel was “preparing for the operation” as of yesterday afternoon.

PCG personnel have also started the manual recovery of two drums of diesel fuel that leaked from MV Mirola Uno.

Encina said the drums fell when the vessel ran aground, causing their content to spill.

“We are now conducting manual scooping. Our intention is to finish it today (Thursday), it’s just two drums (of diesel),” said Encina.

VARIOUS ASSISTANCE

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to provide various assistance, including cash, to fisherfolks affected by the oil spill in Limay, Bataan at the height of typhoon Carina last week.

DSWD Program Management Bureau (PMB) Assistant Director and Crisis Intervention Division officer-in-charge Edwin Morata, in a briefing yesterday, said the agency’s regional offices in Regions III (Central Luzon) and IV-A (Calabarzon) are now coordinating with officials of the local government units (LGUs) concerned to identify the potential beneficiaries and determine the specific needs of the affected fisherfolks.

“There’s a need for assessment and validation to look into what assistance can be given aside from those that cover their daily needs,” Morata said.

He said among those that can be given is cash assistance from P1,000 to P10,000 under the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) Program, food packs as well as medical and burial assistance if needed.

The oil spill has resulted in the declaration of a “no catch zone” in some areas that has affected around 25,000 fisherfolks.

FOOD FROM UAE

The DSWD has started the distribution of 80 tons of food items donated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to those affected by the onslaught of typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon.

DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokeswoman Irene Dumlao said the LGUs that received donated goods from the UAE include Marikina City (832 boxes), Navotas City (384), and Bulacan, Bataan and Pampanga (416 boxes each).

The food boxes contain pasta, wheat flour, basmati rice, red lentils, dates, chickpeas, powdered juice, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and sweet corn.

As of yesterday, more than P276 million worth of food and non-food relief items have been extended by the agency to communities affected by Carina and the habagat.

More than 1.322 million families or more than 4.697 million persons from 11 regions were affected by the twin weather disturbance.

A total of 5,040 families or 19,449 persons are currently staying in 156 evacuation centers while 2,995 families or 12,909 persons are temporarily staying with relatives or friends. — With Jocelyn Montemayor 

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