The Philippines: Sunken Ferry Leaks Oil

An oil slick from the MV St. Thomas of Aquinas, a ferry which sank about a kilometer offshore Talisay, Cebuon Friday, has started to spread.

The central Philippine province of Cebu declared a state of calamity on Monday since the slick started to spread toabout 20 percent of the coast, as reported by Reuters.

The owner of the ferry, the 2GO Group, believes that only lube oil and diesel fuel wereleaking. Besides lube oil and diesel fuel the ferry was also carrying 120,000 liters of bunker fuel.

Authorities and the Coast Guard have immediately startedclean-up efforts by treating the slick with chemicals and by manually cleaning-up areas affected by the oil spill. The ferry owner said that the company has brought in international oil spill experts to help in the clean-up process.

The MV St. Thomas of Aquinas sank after a collision with a cargo vessel MV Sulpicio Express Siete, taking away lives of 52 people and leaving 68 passengers missing.

[mappress]

World Maritime News Staff, August 19, 2013