“We are pleased to report that through the efforts of BRP Hydrographer Ventura, we may have detected the possible site where the vessel is actually located. That site is about 1,200 feet or approximately 400 meters below sea level,” it said in a statement.
The DENR said the oil tanker is located northeast of Pola town in Oriental Mindoro province but believed to have moved southeast from its last known position where it completely submerged.
However, the DENR said it will require verification in the form of deployment of a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) which provides complete visualization should the currents and weather permit.
“We are now preparing to access an ROV in order to fully determine where the vessel actually is and to completely model the way the oil will be spilling from the vessel,” it added.
The DENR reported the matter to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. immediately as soon as the analysis was released on Sunday evening.
“We are closely coordinating with local government officials and with UP-MSI (University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute) on the possible use of this information in the modeling for the spread of the oil,” it said.
The DENR said it is looking forward to seeing an updated model from UP-MSI to share this with the general public, the local governments and the communities that are affected.
MT Princess Empress sank last Feb. 28 off the coast of Naujan town, Oriental Mindoro after it experienced engine trouble brought by overheating while in transit to Iloilo province from Bataan province.
All 20 crew members onboard the oil tanker were rescued. (Perfecto Raymundo Jr.)
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