ILOILO CITY -- There is a danger that the sunken tanker beyond the reach of divers could break up and explode, Capt. Luis Tuason Jr., Coast Guard commander in Western Visayas, said yesterday.

The clean up of the oil spill from the sunken vessel could take from six to eight months, Tuason said.

The M/T Solar I sank 15 nautical miles southwest of Guimaras Island late Friday afternoon.

The 998-gross-ton tanker owned by Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. was under contract to Petron to ship fuel to Western Mindanao Power Corp. in Zamboanga del Sur.

The tanker was carrying 13,000 barrels or 2 million liters of bunker fuel in the vessel's 10 tanks. It left the Limay town in Bataan on Wednesday and was enroute to Zamboanga del Sur, Tuason said.

The cargo costs around P40 million, said Felimon Antiporda, Petron vice president for supply and operations.

Ship captain Norberto Aguro told Coast Guard officials that around 1 a.m. on Friday they sought shelter along the Guimaras Strait due to big waves and strong winds. He reported that the ship's chain locker (part of the anchor) had taken in water.

It resumed its course around 3 p.m. after it reported that it had pumped out the water using submersible pumps.

Aguro said he ordered the crew to abandon ship around 4 p.m. after they lost control of the vessel when the ship tilted on its right aside while being battered by strong winds and big waves.

Sixteen of the crew survived but two, identified as Victor Morados and Art Ian Nabua, remain missing.

Commander Harold Harder. Iloilo Coast Guard commander, said they only knew of the incident on Saturday morning after the recovery of the crew was reported.

He said the crew did not issue a distress call according to marine regulations and procedures.

Tuason said they have formed a committee to investigate the incident but he said their main concern now is to stop the seepage of oil from the tanker.

He said there is danger that the tanks containing the bunker oil could break or explode because of water pressure.

The tanker which sank to a depth of 603 meters (1,978.34 feet) is beyond the reach of divers. It is doubtful if there is available equipment in the country to salvage a vessel at that depth, Tuason said.

"We need the assistance of foreign salvage companies because we cannot siphon the remaining fuel if we cannot reach the vessel," said Tuason.

Tuason said the tanker's vents and tank covers could have given way because of the water pressure but they could not estimate the damage to the tanker and the amount of oil that has been spilled until the vessel can be examined.

Antiporda said their company will offer all possible assistance to the cleanup and containment of the spill even if the hauler is considered the spiller. He said they will bring in equipment to help in the Coast Guard operations.*NPB

back to top