A motor tanker that listed at Batangas Port after being battered by large waves at the onslaught of typhoon Kristine has prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to deploy preventive measures, but authorities have assessed that there is no imminent environmental threat from the incident.

PCG’s Marine Environmental Protection Enforcement Response Group (MEP ERG) Southern Tagalog deployed seven segments of oil spill boom, totaling 175 meters, around the Motor Tanker Casandra, which was reported listing at a 25-30 degree angle on its port side.

The incident occurred on Oct 23, 2024, when the vessel was battered by large waves while docked at Batangas Port’s ferry berth.

A leak was detected while fenders were being attached to shield the hull from potential weather-related damage, according to the vessel’s crew and personnel from the Bureau of Customs.

The MEP ERG Batangas is closely monitoring the situation and has assessed that the spilled diesel is classified as a non-persistent oil, which is expected to disperse naturally due to its light compound.

The incident has generated worries due to the proximity of Batangas to Mindoro, where a devastating oil spill occurred in February 2023.

The oil spill, which was caused by the sinking of the MT Princess Empress, affected several municipalities in Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, causing widespread damage to the marine ecosystem and affecting the livelihoods of Mindoriño communities.

However, PCG has assured that the current situation in Batangas is under control and that the preventive measures in place are sufficient to mitigate any potential environmental damage.

The geographical proximity of Batangas to Mindoro, which is separated by the Verde Island Passage, a narrow strait that connects the South China Sea to the Sibuyan Sea, has resurrected fears about the potential for oil spills to spread quickly across the islands.

Photo Credit: Philippine Coast Guard