PCG resumes Terra Nova siphoning operation

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) resumed its effort to remove the remaining industrial fuel from the sunken motor tanker Terra Nova yesterday.

In an advisory, the PCG said it “ordered the resumption of siphoning operations at ground zero in Limay, Bataan” where the vessel sank 34 meters deep.

It added that the siphoning by salvage company Harbor Star was suspended from Sept. 2 to 6 “to avoid possible oil leaks caused by strong current and heavy weather conditions.”

“The salvor (Harbor Star) secured all siphoning lines and containment equipment, closed all hot taps and postponed the transfer of oily waste while the siphoning operation was put on hold,” the PCG said.

As of Sept. 1, Harbor Star siphoned more than 1.2 million liters of oily waste from the Terra Nova.

The tanker was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel when Typhoon Carina battered Luzon.