Philippine Coast Guard Enhances Response to MT Terra Nova Oil Spill with Additional Booms

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has intensified its containment efforts for the oil spill from the sunken MT Terra Nova by deploying a second layer of oil spill booms at the incident site.

According to Philippines News Agency, the additional booms were placed by personnel aboard the BRP Sindangan. This action complements efforts by private vessels, which are stabilizing the booms and conducting sea surveillance to monitor for further oil sightings. The PCG also updated on previous measures, noting that all valves and high-level alarm pipes of the vessel had been secured with capping bags, which are set to be replaced with more durable metal caps within two weeks. Siphoning of the oil will commence once these caps are in place.

In related operations, the PCG reported that the siphoning of 5,500 liters of diesel from the sunken MT Jason Bradley began on Friday. Additionally, the BRP Malapascua is on standby to use oil dispersants as needed while monitoring the vicinity of the sunken tanker.

The efforts are part of a broader response to a series of maritime incidents in Bataan waters last month, which included the beginning of an oil recovery operation on the MV Mirola 1 on Thursday. The ship is currently aground off Mariveles, Bataan, and contains two tankers filled with diesel oil.