A Philippine-flagged tanker, the MT Terra Nova, carrying 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel oil, capsized and sank off Manila on Thursday, according to authorities who are urgently trying to contain a spill. The vessel was en route to the central city of Iloilo when it overturned in Manila Bay, approximately seven kilometers off Limay municipality in Bataan province, close to the capital, during the early hours. The sinking occurred amid heavy rains driven by Typhoon Gaemi and the seasonal monsoon that have recently battered Manila and its surrounding areas. An oil spill extending several kilometers has been identified in the heavily trafficked waterway.
"We are in a race against time and will do our utmost to contain it immediately and prevent further leakage," stated Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo during a briefing. He cautioned that if all the oil onboard were to leak, it would constitute the largest spill in Philippine history. "There is a significant risk that Manila, including its shoreline, could be affected if the fuel leaks, as it is within Manila Bay," Balilo added. The livelihoods of thousands of fishermen and tour operators are at stake due to their reliance on these waters.
Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista reported that 16 out of the 17 crew members had been rescued from the distressed vessel. A search continued for the missing crew member, though Bautista noted that strong winds and high waves were impeding rescue efforts. Four crew members were undergoing medical treatment. A photograph released by the coast guard depicted the MT Terra Nova nearly completely submerged in turbulent seas. An oil slick, approximately 3.7 kilometers long, was being carried by a "strong current" in an easterly, north-easterly direction, according to a coast guard report. Coast guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan has ordered an investigation into the incident. Marine environmental protection personnel have been deployed to assist in containing the slick.
"It will certainly impact the marine environment," Balilo commented, referring to the vast amount of oil on the ship. One of the most severe oil spills in the Philippines occurred in February 2023, when a tanker carrying 800,000 litres of industrial fuel oil sank off the central island of Mindoro. The diesel fuel and thick oil from that incident polluted the waters and beaches along the coast of Oriental Mindoro province, severely affecting the fishing and tourism industries. The oil spread over hundreds of kilometers of waters known for their rich marine biodiversity. Thousands of fishermen were instructed to remain ashore, and swimming was prohibited. In 2006, a tanker sank off the central island of Guimaras, spilling tens of thousands of gallons of oil that devastated a marine reserve, destroyed local fishing grounds, and coated stretches of coastline in black sludge.
