ORMOC CITY, Philippines – A cargo vessel, which tilted after it rammed into the pier while unloading shipping containers here yesterday morning, has leaked oil.
M/V Ocean Legacy, which was carrying 171 shipping containers and bound for Dumaguete and Bacolod City, made a stopover at the port here to unload five containers for BVC Trucking.
Ship captain Junto Eslawan said big waves caused the ship to keel to the left when it rammed into the port.
Capt. Pablo Gonzales, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Eastern Visayas, said around three barrels of oil had been spilled into the waters but further leakage have been stemmed, citing a report from their divers.
Gonzales said they have set up oil booms and are waiting for a team from PCG-Cebu to bring oil dispersants.
He assured the public that the shipping containers, which were submerged in water, do not contain any toxic chemical.
Eslawan said Oceanic Container Line Inc. owns the vessel, which has 29 crewmembers. – With Fred Padiernos