The oil slick from the tanker that sank off Bataan during a storm has grown and is threatening Manila Bay.
Based on an aerial survey conducted by the Philippine Space Agency, oil that spilled from MT Terra Nova covered 12 to 14 kilometers.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Armand Balilo warned over the weekend that if the entire 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil that the vessel was carrying before it sank last July 25 leaked, it would be an “environmental catastrophe.”
Balilo admitted that removing the oil cargo would be difficult because of the inclement weather and huge waves that threaten to disrupt efforts to salvage the tanker.
The PCG has recommended the suspension of fishing along Manila Bay to ensure people will not consume “contaminated fish.”
The sinking of MT Terra Nova also resulted in the death of one crew member.
Divers of Harbor Star Shipping Services earlier reported that the sunken vessel remains intact and only a minimum amount of oil is seeping out of its valves.
Harbor Star Shipping was hired by Shogun Ships Company Incorporated, owner of the Terra Nova, to salvage the vessel.
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