News

Philippine authorities are battling against time to prevent an ecological disaster after locally-flagged industrial fuel tanker MT Terra Nova sank in Manila Bay, on July 25th. The 65-metre-long (213 feet) vessel, which was carrying around 400,000 gallons (1.5 million litres) of industrial fuel, was destined for Iloilo in the central Philippines when it capsized in rough seas off the east coast of Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan. The country was being lashed by heavy rain and strong winds due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Gaemi. One crew member was killed, while 16 other crew members were rescued.

“We are still preparing for the worst-case scenario to address the potential negative impact to the marine environment,” said coast guard Rear Adm. Armand Balilo in a statement, as the authorities raced against time to “avoid a marine environment catastrophe.” The ship sank about four miles from shore, and the oil slick—likely just coming from the engine at this point—is already stretching for several miles across the bay. Officials fear that if the industrial fuel in the cargo tank is allowed to leak into the ocean, there will be an environmental catastrophe of historic proportions. Rear Adm. Balilo estimated that it would take a week to drain the oil from the ship.

Environmental group Oceana says it is calling on the Philippine government to take swift action to control the spread of the oil and limit the impact to local habitats and wildlife, suggesting that “all those responsible for failing to prevent this tragedy—from concerned government agencies to private owners of the tanker—should be held accountable.”