PCG recovers 97% of oil from MT Terra Nova spill
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday, September 13, said that they only managed to recover 97.43% of the total volume of oil spilled by MT Terra Nova in Limay, Bataan.
This is equivalent to 1.4 million liters of oil and an additional 17,725 kilograms of solid oily waste.
The contracted salvor Harbor Star informed the PCG on Thursday, September 12, that the remaining 37,867 liters of oil (2.57%) could no longer be siphoned due to various factors.
These include biodegradation, where microorganisms like fungi and bacteria consume oil, and dissipation, where oil disperses and becomes less concentrated in the water.
Harbor Star also mentioned that the sorbent booms used to prevent the oil spill from spreading further had already absorbed some of the oil. Sorbent booms are sponge-like tools commonly used to control oil spills.
Some of the remaining oil sludge in the tanks is no longer pumpable either, the salvor added.
The PCG also said that Harbor Star conducted the final stripping operation yesterday to ensure the cargo oil tanks were empty before salvaging MT Terra Nova.
“The said procedure is essential to confirm the removal of residual oil and to prevent leakage or oil contamination for the upcoming salvage operation,” the coast guard explained.
Since August 19, the PCG has been conducting recovery operations after oil tanker MT Terra Nova capsized on July 25 due to Typhoon Carina.
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