Another fuel tanker sinks off Mariveles, Bataan — PCG

THE Philippine Coast Guard has confirmed that another fuel tanker – MTKR Jason Bradly – sank in shallow waters off Mariveles, Bataan on Saturday.

This after the cleaning of oil leak from sunken Terra Nova, which is still carrying its cargo of 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel, was postponed by authorities.

According to the PCG, the Jason Bradley was reported to have no cargo on board, but PCG divers found fuel leaks on the vessel and an undetermined amount of diesel.

The PCG said divers have sealed the leaks found on the vessel and were awaiting the arrival of more equipment.

 “The PCG response team is working on properly removing the diesel cargo with the help of a contracted salvor,” the PCG said, adding that it will investigate the circumstances around the sinking after recovering the cargo.

The oil tanker sank Saturday afternoon in waters nine meters deep off Barangay Cabcaben, just half a kilometer from the shore and just two days after the sinking of the Terranova on July 25.

On Sunday, the PCG said the contracted salvor, Harbor Star Shipping Services, was supposed to start siphoning the Terra Nova’s cargo, but it was postponed after divers found nine more leaking valves that had to be sealed.

“An order was given to seal the valves first before the start of the siphoning operations in order to prevent more leakages,” PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said on Sunday.

Divers were aiming to finish sealing the valves by Monday, Balilo said, when the weeklong siphoning process can start.