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MT Princess Empress oil spill

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Oriental Mindoro oil spill
MT Princess Empress, the oil tanker that caused the oil spill
Map
LocationTablas Strait, Philippines
Coordinates13°19′01″N 121°31′50″E / 13.31694°N 121.53056°E / 13.31694; 121.53056[1]
DateFebruary 28, 2023; 15 months ago (2023-02-28)
Cause
CauseSinking of MT Princess Empress
Casualties189 non-fatal injuries[2]
OperatorRDC Reield Marine Services[3]
Spill characteristics
Volume<1 million L (260,000 US gal)[a]
Area9.87 km2 (3.81 sq mi)[6]
Shoreline impacted55.5 km (34.5 mi)[7]

On the morning of February 28, 2023, oil tanker MT Princess Empress sank off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, causing a widespread oil spill in the Tablas Strait that has affected the provinces of Antique, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan. En route from Bataan to Iloilo, the oil tanker was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil before it sank.[8][9]

Background

MT Princess Empress, the oil tanker that caused the oil spill, is owned by RDC Reield Marine Services.[10][11] Before it sank, the oil tanker was crewed by 20 people and en route to Iloilo to transport 900,000 liters (240,000 U.S. gal)[b] of industrial fuel oil from SL Gas Harbor Terminal in Limay, Bataan. According to an energy sector source, industrial fuel oil, also known as "black oil", is "highly toxic to the environment".[12]

The Tablas Strait, where the oil spill occured, is a waterway between the islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, Panay, and Tablas that serves as a major shipping route in the Philippines. The strait and its adjacent waterbodies, including the Verde Island Passage, are one of the most biodiverse in the country.[13][14] At least 21 marine protected areas could be affected by the oil spill according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).[14][15] Moreover, residents of the coastal settlements of Oriental Mindoro and nearby provinces rely on fishing and other marine activities for their livelihood.[13]

Sinking and oil spill

At 4:16 a.m. Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8) on February 28, 2023, MT Princess Empress was reported to be half-submerged in the waters of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, after experiencing an engine trouble.[2] Four minutes later Panamanian flagged MV Efes rescued the oil tanker's crew and took them to Subic, Zambales, where they arrived by 6 p.m. unscathed.[2][16][17] By 8 a.m., the oil tanker had fully sunk and drifted towards Balingawan Point after facing rough sea conditions.[18] Later that day, BRP Melchora Aquino and a helicopter were dispatched by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to investigate the area. A five-kilometer-long and 500-meter-wide oil spill was then discovered near the shipwreck, although the coast guard clarified that it was from the diesel fuel used to power the tanker, not the industrial fuel oil it was carrying.[19][20]

On March 1, the oil spill expanded to around six by four kilometers.[21] The coast guard described its slick as "black and thick, with strong odor". The oil had thinner particles as compared with the diesel fuel from the tanker, which caused an initial oil spill.[22] At around 2 pm, MTUG Titan – a tugboat carrying oil spill recovery equipment and members of the Marine Environmental Protection Unit (MEPU) of the PCG, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR, and Malayan Towage and Salvage Corporation (MTSC) – reached the oil spill area and began spraying oil dispersants.[23]

Impact

Oil spill collection in Caluya, Antique

The oil spill has affected nine municipalities in Oriental Mindoro: Naujan, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Basud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay and Bulalacao; one in Antique: Caluya;[24] and two in Palawan: Taytay and Agutaya.[25] The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) estimated that more than 137,000 individuals have been affected by the oil spill.[26] In Oriental Mindoro alone, more than 99,000 people have been affected. 122 of whom have fallen ill, with some experiencing respiratory-related symptoms, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, eye irritation, and fever.[27][28]

Response

RDC Reield Marine Services, the owner of MT Princess Empress, hired two contractors—Harbor Star Shipping Services and Malayan Towage and Salvage Corporation—to help with their cleanup efforts.[11]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The exact volume of the oil spill—which includes both the diesel fuel from the oil tanker and the industrial fuel oil it was carrying—has yet to be determined. MT Princess Empress was carrying 900,000 liters (200,000 imp gal; 240,000 U.S. gal) of industrial fuel oil.[4][5]
  2. ^ Initially reported as 800,000 liters (210,000 U.S. gal).[4]

References

  1. ^ Philippines oil spill (JPEG) (Map). Cartography by SkySat. National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023 – via the International Charter 'Space and Major Disasters'.
  2. ^ a b c Situational Report No. 17 for the Effects of Oil Spill in MIMAROPA and Region VI (PDF) (Report). National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  3. ^ Laurente, Ire Joe (March 6, 2023). "Mindoro town to sue operator over oil spill". The Manila Times. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Rita, Joviland (March 16, 2023). "Sunken tanker was carrying 900K liters of industrial fuel oil, not 800K —PCG". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  5. ^ Bolledo, Jairo (March 11, 2023). "Philippine Coast Guard: Oriental Mindoro oil spill still under Tier 2". Rappler. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Macairan, Evelyn (March 21, 2023). "Oil spill reaches Verde Island". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  7. ^ Baroña, Franco Jose C. (March 14, 2023). "Oil spill from sunken tanker affects 55.5kms of Oriental Mindoro coastline — PCG". The Manila Times. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Gregorio, Xave (February 28, 2023). "Tanker carrying 800,000 liters of fuel sinks off Oriental Mindoro". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  9. ^ Mendoza, John Eric (February 28, 2023). "Oil spill ensues after vessel carrying 800,000 liters of oil sinks in Oriental Mindoro". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Yong, Nicholas (March 7, 2023). "Philippines oil spill: Residents report nausea and dizziness in affected villages". BBC News. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  11. ^ a b de Leon, Dwight (March 6, 2023). "Tanker owner guarantees 'commitment' to Oriental Mindoro oil spill cleanup". Rappler. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  12. ^ "MT Princess Empress insured for $1 billion, says MARINA official". Rappler. March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  13. ^ a b de Galicia, Darcie; Espina-Varona, Inday (March 4, 2023). "Oriental Mindoro oil spill threatens Philippine, global diversity". Rappler. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Cabico, Gaea Katreena. "Oriental Mindoro oil spill could affect 21 marine protected areas — DENR". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  15. ^ Mangaluz, Jean (March 1, 2023). "21 protected marine areas may be affected by Mindoro oil spill". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  16. ^ Noriega, Richa (March 1, 2023). "Oil tanker off Mindoro Oriental totally sinks". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  17. ^ Tividad, Maria (February 28, 2023). "20 rescued from partially-submerged oil tanker in Mindoro". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  18. ^ Fernandez-Brojan, Connie; Marzan, Joey; Virola, Madonna T. (March 5, 2023). "Tablas Strait oil spill reaches Antique". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  19. ^ "PCG spots possible oil spill from sinking tanker off Oriental Mindoro". CNN Philippines. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  20. ^ Angelo, Francis Allan (March 1, 2023). "Low odds of Oriental Mindoro oil spill reaching Boracay - Coast Guard". Rappler. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  21. ^ Atienza, Kyle Aristophere T. (March 2, 2023). "Mindoro oil spill hits marine protected areas". BusinessWorld. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  22. ^ Sadongdong, Martin (March 1, 2023). "Sinking of MT Princess Empress: 'Black, thick' oil with foul odor emerges in Mindoro's waters". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  23. ^ Dela Cruz, Raymond Carl (March 1, 2023). "Oil spill recovery begins after tanker sinks off Oriental Mindoro". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  24. ^ Ramirez, Robertzon; Rendon, Jennifer. "Mindoro oil spill reaches 3 barangays in Antique". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  25. ^ "MSI Bulletin #06 (March 10. 2023): Oil slick sightings and deposition reported in Taytay, Palawan". University of the Philippines – Marine Science Institute. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  26. ^ "DSWD: More than 137k persons affected by oil spill". The Philippine Star. March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  27. ^ Ombay, Giselle (March 13, 2023). "Almost 100K people affected by oil spill in Oriental Mindoro —gov". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  28. ^ Magramo, Kathleen (March 9, 2023). "Residents hit by dizziness and fever as oil spill blankets coast of Philippine island". CNN. Retrieved March 15, 2023.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MT_Princess_Empress_oil_spill&oldid=1146008167"