Barge carrying oil debris from Guimaras sinks off Misamis Occidental
When it rains, it certainly pours. A costly lesson for Petron Philippines hit anew with another disaster some four months into the devastating oil-spill caused by the sinking of a company-contracted tanker off Guimaras waters.
From the sunken Solar 1 in August, this time a barge utilized to 'deliver' some 59,000 sacks (600 metric tons) of oil-spill debris to a treatment and disposal plant in Lugait, Misamis Oriental failed to fight off strong waves. After hours of trying to stay afloat Sunday afternoon up to late Monday evening, the crew of Barge Ras owned by Harbor Star company and towed by Tugboat Vega decided to abandon 'ship.'
In an official Petron statement obtained by The News Today (TNT), Public Affairs Officer Raffy Ledesma made no mention of the crew's condition. However news wires disclosed of efforts from the Philippine Coast Guard in Northern Mindanao "to determine the crew's whereabouts as of posting time."
Latest report obtained by The News Today at press time, however, confirmed that the crew were all accounted for.
Exact accident site was placed at about 5 kilometers northeast of Plaridel, Misamis Occidental that occurred about 11:10pm Monday.
The sunken barge was under contract with Petron and the International Oil Pollution Commission (IOPC) with the commissioned trip set for Holcim Cement plant.
Petron officials moved to downplay the effect of the latest accident saying "the composition of the debris being carried by Ras is mostly sand and rocks contained in sacks. The debris contains only traces of oil. It has been weathering for three months and is highly unlikely to pose a danger to communities, shorelines or marine life."
"We are taking charge of the response to this incident. We are already monitoring the area and have mobilized the Waterborne Industry Spill Equipment (W.I.S.E) to deal with any contingency. A tugboat is patrolling around the sink site and so far, no oily sheen or debris has been seen on the surface," Carlos Tan, Petron Health, Safety and Environment Manager said.
Tan stressed that the cargo load was composed mostly of oil-coated sand and rocks.
"Oil made up for only 5% of the cargo," said Tan.
There won’t be another oil spill because the cargo was made up mostly of sand and rocks which have been exposed to the elements and are contained in sacks, said Tan.
We have already deployed our personnel and oil spill equipment to the area where the barge sunk, he said.
At the latest, no oil sheens or debris were seen around the area, Tan said, quoting what the tugboat captain reported to him. Vega is on the area monitoring the conditions.
Tan said that strong winds blew the tarpaulin cover off the barge causing its compartments to take in water. "Eventually the captain of the tugboat had to let go of the towing rope so that they won’t be dragged themselves," Tan said.
"It was on its last part of its journey, it was almost near the finish line when it sank."
According to Tan, it was the eighth and the last trip, and it was carrying the last batch of oil debris gathered from areas in Guimaras.
An emergency meeting was also called yesterday as Defense Secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council Chair Avelino Cruz was apprised of the incident. As such, Task Force Guimaras was also called in to convene.
Environmental group Greenpeace immediately reacted to the sinking, saying Petron "must be held accountable by the Philippine government to the fullest extent of the law."
Greenpeace campaigner Beau Baconguis, in a statement, said: "Petron has yet to fully answer for its disastrous oil spill in Guimaras, but here it is again with another environmental disaster in the making."
"This is truly deplorable, and betrays once again Petron's serious lack of diligence in ensuring that the company's operations are safe and secure," she said.