Philippines Tanker Capsizes in Manila Bay

AFP/APP

Manila: A Philippine-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off Manila Bay early Thursday morning, authorities reported.

The MT Terra Nova was en route to the central city of Iloilo when it sank approximately seven kilometres (4.3 miles) off Limay municipality in Bataan province, near the capital.

Strong winds and high waves have complicated response efforts, according to Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista. “We were able to rescue 16 out of 17 crew members; one is still missing,” Bautista stated.

Four of the rescued crew members are currently receiving medical treatment.

The Philippine Coast Guard has launched a search and rescue operation for the missing crew member. The coast guard also reported that the MT Terra Nova “capsized and eventually submerged.” They are investigating whether a weather disturbance contributed to the maritime incident.

An oil slick, approximately 3.7 kilometres in length, is being carried by a strong current in an easterly-north-easterly direction. Marine environmental protection personnel have been deployed to contain the spill.

Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan has ordered a thorough investigation into the sinking. The incident occurred amidst heavy rains caused by Typhoon Gaemi and the seasonal monsoon affecting Manila and surrounding regions.

In February 2023, a similar incident occurred when a fuel tanker carrying 800,000 litres of industrial fuel oil sank off the central island of Mindoro.

That spill contaminated waters and beaches along the coast of Oriental Mindoro province, significantly impacting the fishing and tourism industries.

The spill dispersed over hundreds of kilometres, affecting one of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems, leading to a ban on fishing and swimming.