Tanker sinks, race against time to avoid oil spill

One crew member died when the MT Terra Nova capsized while heading towards the central city of Iloilo. The ship was about 7 kilometers from Limay town in Manila Bay, across the sea from the Philippine capital.

The sinking was caused by heavy rains that have hit Manila and surrounding areas in recent days, exacerbated by Typhoon Gemi and the seasonal monsoon.

Spotting an oil spill stretching for kilometers, the Philippine Coast Guard began using dispersants in the water while preparing to deploy floating barriers to contain the slick.

An investigation into the cause of the sinking has been launched.

Philippine Coast Guard Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said in a statement that no public storm warning signal was sounded when the MT Terra Nova set sail, so the tanker “did not violate the rules and regulations for sailing in heavy weather.”

– Impact on the “marine environment” –

The oil slick, about 3.7 kilometers long, was found in the busy shipping lane and was carried to the east and northeast by a “strong current.”

Earlier, Balilo said authorities were in a “race against time” to contain the oil spill and avoid an oil spill.

He estimated that if all the oil in the tanker leaked out, it would be the largest oil spill in Philippine history.

“If there is a fuel leak, Manila will be at great risk, even the coastline of Manila because it is located in Manila Bay,” he warned.

“It will certainly affect the marine environment,” he warned, calling the volumes of oil transported by tankers “huge.”

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said 16 of the 17 crew members had been rescued but one was missing.

The Coast Guard said the body of one of the 17 missing crew members was found Thursday afternoon after rescuers searched for hours in rough seas.

– Completely submerged –

A photo released by the coast guard showed the MT Terra Nova almost completely submerged. The Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement that the MT Terra Nova “capsized and eventually submerged.”

Mr Balilo said the vessel was 34 metres below the surface, “very shallow”, meaning siphoning the oil “could proceed quickly”.

Coast Guard Commander Admiral Ronnie Gavin said they have set a goal of completing the siphoning in seven days.

Thousands of fishermen and travel agencies rely on Philippine waters for fishing and tourism activities.

For the leader of a local fishermen’s group, the spill was “truly shocking”.

Pando Hicap, chairman of the Pamalakaya Fishermen’s Organization, urged authorities to curb the situation as soon as possible: “The livelihood of our fishermen depends on the waters. They have no choice,” he told AFP.

One of the Philippines’ worst oil spills occurred in February 2023 when a tanker carrying 800,000 litres of industrial fuel oil sank near the central island of Mindoro, south of the capital.

The ship’s diesel and thick oil polluted coastal waters and beaches, damaging the fishing and tourism industries.

The oil was spread across hundreds of kilometres of water, home to some of the world’s most diverse marine life. Thousands of fishermen were ordered to stay on land and were banned from swimming.

In 2006, a tanker sank near Guimaras Island (center), spilling tens of thousands of liters of oil that destroyed a marine reserve, devastated local fishing grounds, and covered parts of the island in black sludge.