Cleanup of sulfuric acid spilled in Batangas Bay to begin

The salvaging operation for the 1,270 tons of sulfuric acid spilled in Batangas Bay by a barge that sank last June 24 is set to start within two days, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

Antonio Principe, the DENR’s Calabarzon (Region 4-A) executive director, said the Coast Guard has hired a private company, Hideya Waste Management Corp., to carry out the cleanup.

Principe, however, could not give an estimate of the cleanup cost which the United Kingdom-based insurance company of the Billy Star barge would shoulder.

Principe said the salvaging operation would involve the transfer of the sulfuric acid from the barge’s four "bullet tanks" to another vessel, where the chemical would be neutralized.

The sulfuric acid would then be disposed off 25 nautical miles southeast of Lubang Island.

Principe clarified that sulfuric acid "is not a toxic substance but corrosive," saying it increases water temperature to 30 to 35 degrees Celsius.

He refuted claims that the leaked sulfuric acid might cause an explosion, explaining it might happen if water is added to the chemical, not the other way around.

"We have been conducting continued sampling and checking of the water temperature in the areas affected by the sulfuric acid spill. So far, our monitoring revealed that the levels are within the normal standard or ‘ph,’ as there has been no change in the water temperature," he said.

Principe discussed a plan to "re-float" the barge, but the Titan Maritime Ltd. Co. is concerned that this might affect a ship docked nearby.

On June 24, the 150-ton Billy Star sank in Batangas Bay and leaked tons of sulfuric acid into the sea.

The bottom hull of the barge, owned by Grand Asian Shipping Inc., was believed to have corroded, causing it to sink in the Keppel drydock.

Last June 26, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes revoked the license of Grand Asian Shipping and described the incident as "an environmental tragedy."

Reyes ordered the Environmental Management Bureau and the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau to determine the extent of the environmental damage caused by the sulfuric acid spill.

He said the affected area is one of the country’s foremost natural heritage sites because of its rich biodiversity.