Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs AFP journalists at the Port of Limay in Bataan province watched coast guard personnel load oil dispersant and a suction skimmer onto a boat to be used against the slick.
Balilo said oil spill containment booms had also been deployed in preparation “for the worst case scenario” of the industrial fuel oil leaking before it could be offloaded.
Once the weather improved, coast guard divers would inspect the position of the tanker so the “siphoning operation” could get underway, he said.
The coast guard met with representatives of the MT Terra Nova’s owner and a contracted salvage company on Friday to discuss the timeline.
“There’s nothing to be worried about for now, but we should not be complacent,” Balilo said.
SWAMPED BY WAVES
The incident happened as heavy rains fuelled by Typhoon Gaemi and the seasonal monsoon lashed Manila and surrounding regions in recent days.
After setting out late Wednesday, the captain decided to abort the journey to Iloilo due to rough seas.
Balilo said investigators were seeking to verify testimony from the crew that the vessel was damaged as it tried to turn back and had to be towed by another ship.
Somehow the tow line was cut and the MT Terra Nova “lost control” in the large waves and went down, he said.
“We will see if there were protocols violated or if there was a lapse in decision-making,” Balilo said.
Sixteen of the 17 crew members were rescued.
