On Thursday, a Philippine-flagged tanker, the MT Terra Nova, carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off Manila. The incident occurred in Manila Bay, nearly seven kilometers (4.3 miles) off Limay municipality in Bataan province, while the vessel was en route to Iloilo.
Authorities are urgently working to contain the resulting oil spill, which has spread over several kilometers in the busy waterway. Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo expressed concerns that if the entire cargo were to leak, it could become the largest oil spill in Philippine history.
He warned of significant potential damage to Manila and its shoreline if the fuel continues to spill.
Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista reported that 16 of the 17 crew members had been rescued, with efforts ongoing to locate the missing crew member. Strong winds and high waves are complicating the search and rescue operations, while four rescued crew members are receiving medical treatment.
The coast guard is investigating whether a weather disturbance contributed to the incident. The MT Terra Nova sank amid heavy rains caused by Typhoon Gaemi and the seasonal monsoon affecting Manila and nearby areas.
An oil slick, approximately 3.7 kilometers long, is being carried east-northeast by strong currents. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan has ordered an investigation into the incident. Marine environmental protection teams have been mobilized to help manage the spill.
One of the Philippines’ worst oil spills occurred in February 2023 when a tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil sank near the central island of Mindoro. The spill contaminated waters and beaches along Oriental Mindoro province, severely impacting the local fishing and tourism industries.
The diesel fuel and thick oil spread over hundreds of kilometers, affecting one of the world’s most diverse marine environments. Fishermen were ordered to stay ashore until it was safe to fish, and swimming was prohibited.
Another significant spill happened in 2006 when a tanker sank off the central island of Guimaras, releasing tens of thousands of gallons of oil. This incident destroyed a marine reserve, damaged local fishing areas, and covered large stretches of coastline in black sludge.
