The Pacific Valkyrie, an anchor handling vessel, arrived ON Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at THE Subic Bay, Zambales to support the on-going oil spill management operations in Oriental Mindoro.

The vessel isa said to be carrying a submersible remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which will conduct a video and sonar survey of the sunken MT Princess Empress.

The ROV can take still photographs, and carry a payload of 150 lbs. It has function manipulators capable of work at depth and auxiliary servos for hydraulic tool operations. It also has a salvage basket that can bear 4000 lbs.

The wreck survey will provide additional situational data on the shipwreck, which will assist in determining solutions to salvage the vessel and its content.

“We thank the US Government for making these arrangements to support the Philippines’ continuing effort to control and resolve this environmental emergency,” NDRRMC Chairperson and National Defense Officer in Charge, Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

“Once all mandatory checks and preparations are completed, the Pacific Valkyrie, carrying an ROV team from the US, will head to Oriental Mindoro to check the current situation of the shipwreck and its fuel cargo. We will then use data gathered to determine the next appropriate course of action to control the oil leakage coming from its source.” Sec. Galvez added.

Aside from the ROV, the US Government is also sending 11,000 feet of 26-inch absorbent harbor boom. These containment booms will be used to control the spread of oil and allow easy recovery.

Personal protective equipment (PPEs), other support equipment, vehicles, and vessels, as well as experts from the U.S. Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Navy are also to be deployed to assist the effort.

“We welcome this assistance coming from our US counterparts. We are confident that this initiative would greatly help our assessment efforts, thereby enabling us to implement the most effective containment and clean-up strategy.” NDRRMC Executive Director and Civil Defense Administrator, Usec. Ariel Nepomuceno explained.

Interagency clean-up activities are currently being done across the most affected coastal areas together with initiatives from the national and local governments, non-government organizations, communities, and private entities. A total of 10,206 liters of oil-mixed water and 72,643 kilos of oil contaminated debris had been collected in these cleanup operations.

Meanwhile, more than 36,000 families had been affected by the environmental emergency. A total PHP 142.9M-worth of assistance had been provided by various government agencies and non-government organizations. This includes financial assistance, family food packs, hygiene kits and other non-food items.

“As we speak, the coordination between various government agencies continue and the conduct of clean-up operations in the coastal areas of the three most affected regions are in full gear.” Usec Nepomuceno said.

It can be recalled that the MT Princess Empress sunk last February 28, 2023, at the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro loaded with 800,000 liters of Industrial Fuel Oil.

Catherine R. Cueto