Siphoning of oil from sunken ship continues

MANILA, Philippines - Siphoning of oil from the sunken passenger ship M/V St. Thomas Aquinas in Cebu continues with efforts now focused on oil that has leaked to other compartments of the vessel.

Commodore William Melad, Philippine Coast Guard Central Visayas District commander, said the Malayan Towage and Nippon Salvage have completed removing oil from all the 11 tanks of the ship, but only recovered 2,000 liters of fuel and 180 liters of lube oil.

When the ship sailed last Aug. 16 and collided with cargo vessel Sulpicio Express Siete, it was carrying 120,000 liters of bunker oil, 20,000 liters of lube oil, and 20,000 liters of diesel oil.

Melad said some of the oil has surfaced on water, causing an oil spill in coastal villages such as in Cordova town.

“But it was also discovered that the tanks were empty because many of the oil accumulated in other compartments of the ship. The divers from Malayan and Nippon drilled holes on these compartments and installed flange and hose to siphon the oil,” Melad said.

Malayan Towage and Nippon Salvage were contracted by the 2Go Travel company, owner of M/V St. Thomas Aquinas, to remove the oil from the sunken ship.

Meanwhile, Melad said oil absorbent booms have been placed in eight villages in Cordova, as there are still traces of oil that continues to leak, though in small quantities, from the submerged ship.

As for the oil that has contaminated mangrove trees, Melad said they are leaving it up to the natural ebb and flow of the tide to slowly clean the trees’ roots and lower parts of their trunks.

As of yesterday, the official death toll in the sea collision was placed at 116 with 21 still missing. At least 733 people survived the tragedy.

Melad said they have temporarily suspended the retrieval of bodies from the ship’s wreckage to give way to the siphoning of oil from the ship.