Another Guimaras oil spill seen
March 26th, 2008 by Site Administrator
AN ACCIDENT is waiting to happen—an oil spill like the one in Guimaras—possibly right smack in the center of Metro Manila, along the Pasig River passageway, as the government’s effort to have only double-hulled oil tankers ferry oil and other products is being determinedly opposed by some sea-transport firms. The lobby against the rules of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) that are due for implementation next month is said to be in full swing, threatening to unravel the inutile ecology-friendly rules of the government.
Following the Guimaras oil spill in 2006 that cost P404 million to clean up, affected the livelihood of 22,000 fishermen and damaged more than 200 kilometers of coastline, Marina officials have repeatedly underscored the need for double-hulled vessels to ferry oil and other products as a precautionary measure to prevent another marine disaster. A double-hulled vessel has an outer layer that forms the normal hull of the ship and a second inner hull that forms a redundant barrier to avoid seepage due to collision or leaks.
The Marina rule is meant to prevent oil leak or pollution in the event of a collision, as had happened to M/T Solar I off Guimaras. That oil spill prompted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to order the Marina to require oil vessels to be double-hulled. The oil spill, it was learned much later, not only affected the fishermen and the beaches in the area; it also resulted in the decline of fish diversity, the death of 600 mature mangroves and a huge drop in fish density from 1.5 grams per square meter in 2001 to 0.08 grams per square meter.
Mrs. Arroyo also released P20 million to supplement the calamity funds in the aftermath of that oil spill, which negated all the ecotourism come-ons in the area. Now, the government’s efforts to prove its worth before the international audience, insofar as preventing maritime disasters is concerned, may prove worthless if the Marina succumbs to the powerful lobby to defer the implementation of the double-hull rule by next month.
The government may also find itself the laughingstock of the world should the lobby group have its way. Here we are, trying to dovetail our efforts to conform with international standards on climate change, environmental protection and global warming, such that there is a push to come up with a biofuels industry and with alternative energy sources that do not rely on fossil fuel. But when it comes to the implementation of rules meant to put the country in step with global norms such as double-hulled vessels, the government finds its voice hollow.
The Marina should insist on the implementation of its rules on the use of double-hulled tankers and the imposition of sanctions against firms that continue to flout the rules. After all, the phaseout of single-hulled vessels was made more than a year ago.
We also understand that several marine logistics companies have already complied with the Marina rules, which was an off-take from the International Maritime Organization’s International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution following catastrophic maritime disasters all over the world, most notable of which was the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska which required a whopping $2.5 billion to clean up. These firms invested in the conversion of 5,000-ton single-hull tankers to double hulls to the tune of at least $12 million. This just goes to show that there are many companies willing to invest a sizeable amount to conform to global maritime-safety standards. Thus, it would not make sense for the government to defer the implementation since there are companies that are now following the rule to the letter.
What the Marina should do now is to mobilize port marshals who would ensure that single-hulled vessels are no longer used to ferry oil and other oil products. In the case of Petron, Shell and Chevron, they are acceding to the Marina rules by chartering only double-hulled vessels. The problem, though, is that oil smugglers are still reportedly using single-hulled vessels in their illegal trade. This is why the Marina needs eagle-eyed port marshals to monitor the situation and preserve our pristine beaches and fish sanctuaries. The Marina should move resolutely against any effort to prevent another marine tragedy.
Business Mirror | View Source