14°33′52″N 120°42′09″E / 14.5645662°N 120.7026136°E
2024 Manila Bay oil spill | |
---|---|
Location | Manila Bay, 7 km off the coast of Limay, Bataan, Philippines |
Date | July 25, 2024 |
Cause | |
Cause | Sinking of MT Terra Nova |
Casualties | 1 death |
Spill characteristics | |
Volume | Up to ~1,494 metric tonnes |
Area | Length of 12–14 km (7.5–8.7 mi) |
On July 25, 2024, the Philippine-flagged industrial fuel tanker MT Terra Nova (IMO number: 9092666) capsized and sank in Manila Bay, off the east coast of Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan, causing an ongoing oil spill. The tanker was carrying nearly 1.5 million liters (approximately 400,000 gallons) of industrial oil. Initially its engine oil leaked into the sea; after a while, the cargo also began spilling into the bay following the sinking.[1][2]
Background
The Philippines was struck by heavy rainfall and strong winds caused by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Gaemi (locally called Carina) in late July 2024.[1] Information from the LSEG Eikon indicated that the ship could carry 1,415 tons of deadweight tonnage.[3] The oil tanker was destined for Iloilo in the central Philippines, with seventeen crew members on board the ship.[2][4]
Sinking
At 1:10am (UTC+8) on July 25, 2024, the vessel capsized and sank in 34 meters (112 ft)-deep waters 3.6 nautical miles (6.7 km) off the coast of Limay in the province of Bataan.[3][5] Sixteen of the crew members were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Melchora Aquino[failed verification] while one died.[3] His body was recovered in waters off the shore of Limay.[2]
Impact
Reports from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on July 25, 2024, reported that the size of the "enormous" oil spill had spread out over "several" kilometers, and was at risk of making landfall on the coast of Manila. PCG spokesperson Armando Balilo stated that the oil spill had a significant risk of impacting the livelihoods of local fishermen by damaging the marine environment of Manila Bay. He noted that the oil spill could grow into the largest in Philippine history if the entire 1.494 million liters of oil were to disperse into the bay.[1] The Philippine Space Agency, citing satellite images, estimated that the spill could reach an area of around 14.4 square kilometers.[6] On July 26, the PCG assessed that the oil slick had reached two kilometers in length.[7] The mayor of Limay said that 400 to 500 liters of oil from the ship's fuel tank had leaked out.[8]
Transportation secretary Jaime Bautista reported that the tanker was carrying roughly 1,494 metric tons of industrial fuel at the time of its sinking. The oil spill spread quicker due to strong waves extending the area of the spill rapidly.[2]
On July 27, the PCG reported that the ship's industrial fuel cargo began to leak, contributing to the oil spill caused by diesel fuel which was spilling from the vessel's fuel tank starting on July 22.[citation needed] As a result, the amount of oil spilled tripled compared to on July 25, with the surface oil slick extending between 12 to 14 kilometers (7.5 to 8.7 miles) in length. In response, the PCG issued a ban on fishing in Manila Bay.[9] Traces of the spill were discovered heading towards Bulacan and Cavite.[10]
Response
The coast guard dispatched a 97-meter long coast guard ship to prevent further spillage, while several smaller ships were put on standby until weather conditions stabilized enough.[2] A ban on fishing was declared in two barangays of Limay.[11] President Bongbong Marcos also conducted an aerial survey of Pampanga, Bulacan, and Bataan to assess the effects of the oil spill.[12]
The PCG started using floating barriers and siphoning water buckets to clean-up the oil slick.[13] Booms and dispersants were also used after divers found the cargo was leaking from the valves.[14] The PCG estimated that siphoning of the cargo would take a week.[15]
See also
External links
References
- ^ a b c "Philippines: Industrial fuel tanker capsizes, causing oil spill". BBC News. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Flores, Mikhail; Jerome Morales, Neil (July 25, 2024). "Oil spill threatens Philippines capital after tanker capsizes". Reuters. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Philippines in 'race against time' as oil tanker capsizes off Manila". Al Jazeera. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ Moaje, Marita (July 26, 2024). "PCG braces for Bataan oil spill reaching Manila Bay". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "PhilSA releases map showing possible extent of Bataan oil spill". GMA News. July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "PH Space Agency releases map of possible oil spill extent in Manila Bay". ABS-CBN. July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Marita Moaje (July 26, 2024). "PCG braces for Bataan oil spill reaching Manila Bay". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ "Owner of MT Terranova taps Harbor Star to salvage tanker, help in oil spill cleanup". Rappler. July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Philippine Coast Guard Says Oil Leaking From Sunken Tanker". Barron's. July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Oil slick from sunken tanker in Bataan 'moving towards Cavite': DENR". ABS-CBN. July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Temporary fishing ban raised in 2 Bataan towns due to oil spill". ABS-CBN. July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Marcos leads aerial inspection of Bataan oil spill, Carina aftermath". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Philippine coast guard says oil leaking from sunken tanker". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.[failed verification]
- ^ "Philippine coast guard says oil leaking from sunken tanker". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Gomez, Jim (July 25, 2024). "Philippine oil tanker sinks in Manila Bay, raising fears of a possible major spill near the capital". Associated Press. Retrieved July 27, 2024.