Delayed oil siphoning from sunken vessel alarms Bataan residents

BALANGA, Bataan, Philippines — Residents and officials of Limay town in this province are worried over the delayed siphoning of industrial oil from the sunken motor tanker Terra Nova.

It has been almost a month since the Terra Nova sank in the waters off Bataan on July 25, yet much of its oil cargo has yet to be siphoned out.

Limay Vice Mayor Richie Jason David said a full-blast siphoning of oil has yet to be conducted from the Terra Nova.

David said the vessel was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial oil when it figured in the maritime accident.

He said after conducting simulated siphoning on Aug. 7, the Philippine Coast Guard and the salvor company shifted their focus on preventing an oil spill.

David said the municipal government is regularly updated about the activities being conducted on the vessel.

“We are grateful that no major oil leak from Terra Nova has occurred so far. We are safe, but we can’t keep ourselves from worrying,” David said.

He said he was informed that the salvage team is still waiting for the arrival of a more efficient suction device.

David said the volume of oil has to be reduced for the vessel to become lighter and attain bouyancy before it can be towed to the nearest port.