GMM Safety | 2024-07-26 | Case Accidents |
The MT Terra Nova, an oil tanker carrying 1.4 million litres (370,000 gallons) of industrial fuel, sank in Manila Bay, Philippines, on July 25, 2024.
The incident resulted in the death of one crew member and raised concerns about an extensive oil spill impacting Manila.
The tanker capsized amid heavy rainfall and rough seas followed by Typhoon Gaemi, which has already caused severe damage across the archipelago.
The tanker was travelling from Bataan province to Iloilo when it encountered strong waves that challenged its stability.
The Coast Guard rescued sixteen of the seventeen crew members in a late-night operation, but one crew member was found dead.
Jaime Bautista, the Transportation Secretary, confirmed that there was an oil spill, but response operations were delayed due to strong winds and high waves.
The Philippine Coast Guard has reported an oil spill spreading about 3.7 kilometres (2.3 miles) from the sinking site.
A Coast Guard vessel has been deployed to contain the spill, but smaller vessels are waiting for improved weather conditions to join the operation.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo stated that they are doing their best to contain the fuel and stop it from leaking.
Balilo further added that if all the ship’s fuel leaked, it might become the worst oil spill in the country’s history.
The ship sank in waters close to Manila, increasing the possibility of the spill impacting the city and its surroundings.Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Ministry of Environment to assess the damage caused by the spill.The ministry’s chief is en route to the coastal town closest to the sinking site.
An aerial survey found an oil slick caused by strong currents, which may endanger Manila’s shoreline and nearby fishing communities.
The MT Terra Nova had a deadweight tonnage of 1,415 tons and was transporting fuel when it sank.
The incident occurred just over a year after a similar disaster involving the MT Princess Empress, which spilt almost 800,000 litres of industrial fuel in February 2023.
The oil spill took three months to clean up, causing extensive damage to local ecosystems and tourism.
Reference: Aljazeera, Reuters
