MANILA: Oil siphoning from one of eight tankers of the sunken MTKR Terranova began Wednesday following an oil removal test by the contracted salvor.
In a situation report, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Lt. Commander Michael John Encina said the salvor, Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. completed the installation of a flange valve plate and hot tapping operation.
‘The safe working pressure during siphoning was maintained at a maximum of 0.15 bar. Approximately 300 liters of oil were transferred to a tank to test the equipment, with no leaks observed and minimal oiling effectively contained using one length of boom,’ Encina said.
The salvor’s divers have also marked areas for hot tap operations, bored stud links to secure equipment, and cleared debris from the hull.
To date, oil siphoning from one of MTKR Terranova’s tanks is ongoing.
The installation of pipes through hot tapping is also scheduled for the remaining seven tanks.
Each tank is estimated to be carrying 175,.000 liters of intermediate fuel oil
(IFO)
‘After this operation, mag-po-proceed na ang contracted salvor sa siphoning ng seven tanks (the contracted salvor will proceed with the siphoning of seven tanks),’ Encina said.
On July 25, MTKR Terranova sank in the waters off Bataan, resulting in minimal oil sheen in the shorelines of Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Cavite.
Source: Philippines News Agency