Philippine Coast Guard lay out oil spill booms around sunken tanker

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) laid out oil spill booms around an oil tanker that sank during typhoon Gaemi in the Philippines.

Video shows coast guard vessels deploying the containment device off Limay town in Bataan province on July 29.

The PCG were also dousing the oil sheens with dispersants and water cannons, while more spill booms were placed in areas where the oil slick was expected to drift.

In an update on July 30, it said: 'PCG ships and contracted vessels continue to use water cannons to agitate the oil sheens and accelerate weathering effect – a strategy that was implemented during the Oriental Mindoro oil spill.

'Coast Guard personnel and PCG Auxiliary (PCGA) members are also preparing the laying of oil spill booms and improvised oil spill booms in areas that are projected to be affected by the maritime incident.'

The MT Terra Nova sank off Bataan province typhoon Gaemi lashed the Philippines early morning on July 25. One crewman aboard died, while 16 others were rescued.

The Philippine Coast Guard is bracing to contain a major oil spill, as the vessel was reported to have been carrying 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel.

Siphoning operations were expected to start today, July 30, and authorities said they hoped to finish in two weeks.

In February 2023, the MT Princess Empress tanker carrying 800,000 litres of industrial fuel sank and caused a disastrous oil spill in the Philippines' Oriental Mindoro province.

The spill took three months to contain, destroying swathes of coral reefs and disrupting the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen across at least six provinces.