MANILA, Philippines — The siphoning of the 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil (IFO) that MT Terra Nova was carrying before it sank off Limay, Bataan will begin on Tuesday.
This was announced on Monday by Leonell Mojal-Infante, spokesman of Portavaga Ship Management Inc., the operator of the sunken tanker, after the leaking valves were sealed by divers of Harbor Star Shipping Services.
Harbor Star Shipping was hired by Shogun Ships Company Incorporated, owner of Terra Nova, to salvage the tanker that sank on July 25.
Mojal-Infante said the divers were able to seal 12 valves of the tanker, four of which had been leaking IFO.
He said siphoning of the oil cargo could begin on Tuesday, July 30, if the weather permits.
Mojal-Infante also said that the insurer of Terra Nova will start to compensate those affected by the oil spill that is now threatening Manila Bay.
Pangisda-Pilipinas, an alliance of small-scale and subsistence fishermen, earlier called on the government to assist thousands of fisher folk whose livelihood have been affected by the oil spill.
Based on an aerial survey conducted by the Philippine Space Agency, a mixture of diesel and industrial oil now covers an estimated area 12 to 14 kilometers.
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