Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel collect oil sleek and sea water samples off the coast of Bataan on July 26, 2024, in this handout photo. Handout/PCGMANILA — Divers on Monday successfully plugged the leaking valves of the sunken oil tanker near the waters of Limay town in Bataan to avert a potential environmental catastrophe.

Salvage company Harbor Star Shipping Services sealed 12 pressure vacuum relief valves of MT Terra Nova, four of which had been leaking, said Atty. Leonell Mojal-Infante, spokesperson of the Portavaga Ship Management Inc., the owner of the sunken tanker.

Harbor Star Shipping Services used special material to seal possible exit points of the industrial fuel from MT Terra Nova, Mojal-Infante said.

SIPHONING MAY BEGIN TUESDAY

As the sealing was completed, the siphoning of the 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel into another oil tanker could begin on Tuesday if the weather improves.

The tanker sank in bad weather off Manila early Thursday, killing one crew member and leaving the Philippines facing the possibility of its worst oil spill ever.

READ: Philippine coast guard says oil leaking from sunken tanker

MT Terranova's insurer is now moving to pay for damages to those affected by the oil spill, including coastal fishermen who were forced to temporarily halt their livelihood, said Mojal-Infante.

Portavaga Ship Management Inc. has also submitted a salvage and recovery plan to the Philippine Coast Guard for a more detailed process for oil extraction and cleanup operations in the affected communities.

PHOTO: Oil spill from capsized oil tanker Terra Nova reaches Bulacan

—with a report from Agence France-Presse

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