Diesel oil leaks from one of Navy's vintage vessels

MANILA, Philippines - Even the Philippine Navy (PN) was not spared from the wrath of typhoon “Basyang,” after diesel oil reportedly leaked from one of its vintage vessels, resulting in an oil spill while it was docked in Sangley Point, Cavite City.

An official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), who requested anonymity, said they received a request from the PN to assist one of its vessels, Landing Ship Tanker (LST) 506, that might have been damaged at the height of Basyang last July 14.

The LST 506 is said to be a vintage World War II vessel.

“I have heard that the PCG has already sent four Maritime Environment Pollution Command (Mepcom) personnel and leased our oil spill boom and sorbent pads to them. Our Mepcom people would collect the oil that floats to the surface,” the PCG official said.

“The vessel is actually already decommissioned and is ready for disposal. The oil that came out from the ship was remnants from the pipe,” he added.

It seemed that the Navy vessel was docked when rough waves and strong winds slammed into it last week.

“We would be sending divers to determine the cause of the oil spill and to check if the hull was damaged,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the PCG apprehended last Wednesday a motor tanker after it reportedly discharged an oily mixture while it was docked in a shipyard in Mariveles, Bataan.

PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Arman Balilo said they received information that the 302.65 gross ton M/T BMI Angelita discharged oil while it was docked at the Seafront Shipyard, Barangay Lucanin, Mariveles, Bataan.

At around 8:30 a.m. of July 21, the PCG Station in Bataan, including personnel from their Marine Environment Protection Unit and Oil Spill Response Team, proceeded to the area to confirm the report.

It was learned that the tanker discharged approximately 15 liters of an oily mixture and the team conducted cleanup operations to remove the floating oil debris. They scooped the substance and applied 10 liters of biodegradable dispersant.

Balilo said that they have advised the vessel owner, Chelsea Shipping Corp. through its operations manager Armando Mira, to properly transfer the oily mixture from the flooded engine room to a reception facility to prevent further spillage.– Alexis Romero