Terra Nova oily waste siphoning ends today

MANILA, Philippines — Salvors are expected to finish today the siphoning of the remaining industrial oil from the sunken motor tanker Terra Nova, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

PCG-Bataan station chief Lt. Cdr. Michael John Encina said that on Sunday, most of the materials siphoned from the tanker were seawater and less of the oily waste.

The PCG gave salvor firm Harbor Star two more days or until today to complete the oil siphoning from the Terra Nova.

As of Sunday, the Harbor Star had collected 1.3 million liters of combined oil and seawater from the tanker.

The Terra Nova sank in the waters off Limay in Bataan at the height of Typhoon Carina on July 25.

The tanker was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial oil when it sank.

As this developed, the refloating of motor tanker Jason Bradley, which sank in the waters off Mariveles, Bataan might be done on Sept. 14, the PCG said.

Salvor firm FES Challenger has started siphoning seawater from the tanker to make it buoyant and easier to refloat.

“The FES Challenger said it intends to refloat the Jason Bradley on Saturday and tow it to the Diving Industry Shipyard in Barangay Alas-asin for repair,” Encinas said.

The Jason Bradley was loaded with 5,500 liters of diesel intended for its operation when it sank on July 26.