Hold your breath and cross your fingers, folks! The discovery of the sunken MT Princess Empress has left us with bated breath as we wait for the next move. Unfortunately, it seems like things have taken a turn for the worse. The Japanese remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) that found the tanker is not equipped to deal with plugging or siphoning oil from the vessel, according to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Artemio Abu. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place!


The ROV Hakuyo, owned by Japanese firm Kyoei Marine, is simply not up to the task of controlling the leakage of oil from the sunken vessel. So, what's the next step? A vessel from Singapore may need to be called in to take on this critical mission.


Currently, there is no confirmation whether oil is leaking from the tanker, which is submerged nearly 400 meters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. Based on the video taken by the Hakuyo, the ship is just "lying there" with no "visible leakage." However, we are still very concerned that if the leak is not plugged soon, it could continue to spread and wreak havoc on the Verde Island Passage, which is the center of the Philippines’ marine biodiversity.


RDC Reield Marine Services, the ship's owner, has contracted French company Le Floch Depollution (LFD) to respond to the oil spill in Mindoro. RDC has also hired local oil spill response contractors for the cleanup. Abu emphasized that the "spillers pay principle" is in effect, and RDC has taken full accountability and responsibility for the incident through their insurance.


It's fantastic news that the PCG has joined the cleanup operations in Verde Island, where they were able to collect 162 liters of oily water mixture and four sacks of oil-contaminated debris. However, we cannot let our guard down just yet. It's essential that we act fast and efficiently to prevent further damage to our marine environment.


The PCG's oil spill response is based on science. They are aware of the negative impact of chemical dispersants on the marine environment, but the main purpose of chemical dispersants, along with oil spill booms, is to prevent the oil from reaching shores. It's a tricky situation, but we need to trust the experts and work together to find a solution.


Let's keep our fingers crossed that the situation is resolved soon. In the meantime, we need to do our part and be mindful of our actions that may harm our environment. Remember, prevention is always better than cure! Together, we can make a difference and protect our precious marine environment.