Nearly a month after the MT Princess Empress sank in the waters of Oriental Mindoro, the ship responsible for the oil spill was finally located on Tuesday, March 21, according to Governor Humerlito Dolor.
The sunken vessel’s location was determined using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) by the Japanese Dynamic Positioning Vessel Shin Nichi Maru, which arrived in Calapan City on Monday.
The Japanese vessel is capable of diving to depths of 2,000 meters.
Dolor said they will discuss the next actions on MT Princess Empress, along with the Philippine Coast Guard, an insurance company, the ship owner, and Harbor Star Shipping Services, Inc.
“We will respond correspondingly once we have discussed ‘yung result ng assessment na ginawa ng ROV,” he said.
“Mahalaga na ngayon ay nakikita na nila ang nasa ilalim nang sa gayon ay makagawa ng maliwanag na plano kung papaano aalisin kung mayroon man na langis sa loob or ano ang kailangang gawin para takpan kung mayroon man na mga butas sa barkong ito,” he added.
Meanwhile, Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno stressed need to acquire an ROV worth P40 to P50 million.
“Yung pamahalaan mismo ay kailangan pang mag-procure ng ROV upang magkaroon ng sariling kakayanan. Sa mas lalong madaling panahon ay kailangan nating bumili ng sarili nating ROV,” he said.
Oriental Mindoro’s local government is waiting for the official report from the ROV’s assessment, which is expected in the next five days. – with reports from Cleizl Pardilla & Katrina Gracia Consebido-ag