Search for toxic cargo stopped
Search operations for the missing toxic cargo of a vessel that sank off Antique last June has been called off by the Coast Guard after more than a month of operations.
But divers have failed to locate around 80 sealed drums containing at least 16 metric tons of the toxic substance toluene di-isocyanate (TDI).
The cargo was among those believed thrown off the M/V Ocean Papa which sank due to strong winds and rough seas at noon of June 21 near Mararison Island around 5.6 km from the coast of Culasi while en route to Iloilo City from Manila.
Two of the vessel's crew members, including ship captain Carlo Kho, died, while two others remain missing. Twenty four crew members were rescued.
"We have searched all possible areas near Mararison Island. We have finished diving operations and the focus is on salvaging of the vessel," said Commodore William Melad, Coast Guard Western Visayas District Commander, on Thursday.
Melad said that as of Wednesday, 587 tons of ship parts have been cut and brought to shore. This is around 77 percent of the salvaging work, he said.
The owner of the sunken vessel, the Oceanic Container Lines Inc., earlier said they wanted to stop the search operations for the missing cargo because of risks to divers in going to deeper areas.
Around 61 container vans from the ship have been recovered after these were swept ashore and another was found by divers near the ship.
But 80 sealed drums containing at least 16 metric tons TD were not among those recovered despite the use of sonar-equipped ships.
TDI is a main ingredient in the production of flexible polyurethane foam and is used in manufacturing synthetic leather, coated fabrics, paints and adhesives. The chemical can cause severe irritation of the skin and eyes and affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems if inhaled or ingested.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Western Visayas earlier issued a warning against possible contamination of the carcinogenic substance through inhalation, ingestion or direct contact. They have advised residents not to open the container vans and drums if they are recovered.
But Dr. Evelyn Laurito, a chemical engineer tapped by Oceanic Container Lines Inc., earlier said that any possible spill of the TDI on the sea "will not adversely affect marine life."
She also said that the sinking of TDI inside 250-kg steel tanks poses "little danger as far as toxicity is related with its release as vapors in the atmosphere."
Officials and residents of Culasi have appealed for the search to continue on fears that residents in areas near the site of the sinking would always fear the possibility of contamination as long as the toxic cargo is not recovered.