By Alec Go
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said there is a suspected oil spill after motor tanker MT Princess Empress sank off the waters of Balingawan Point, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Monday morning, Feb. 27.
The vessel from Bataan is carrying approximately 800,000 liters of industrial fuel to Bataan.
The vessel had engine trouble due to overheating, resulting in its drift towards Balingoan Point due to rough sea conditions.
The PCG said on Tuesday afternoon that it monitored a “spillage of diesel fuel, not industrial fuel oil (cargo).”
In its report, it said its Aviation Force sighted in its aerial surveillance a “suspected oil spill with an estimated area of 5-kilometer-long and 500-meter-wide” near the half-submerged vessel.
The BRP Melchora Aquio has been deployed, together with an airbus helicopter to respond to the incident.
Booms are set to be installed to control the spill. – gb
