MT Solar 1 siphoning early next year–IOPC

A REPRESENTATIVE of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds yesterday said the siphoning of the bunker fuel out of MT Solar 1 that sank off the coast of Guimaras will take place in the first part of next year yet and not in December as earlier stated, citing the expected typhoon season as the reason.

Captain Patrick Joseph, IOPC claims manager, who was in Bacolod, said he is optimistic that the IPOC executive committee meeting in London on Oct. 23 will grant funding for the siphoning of the bunker fuel.

The IOPC Funds executive director, Mans Jacobsson, has informed the executive committee that he considers the siphoning operation cost to be admissible, which is a very good sign, Joseph said.

The IOPC provides compensation for oil pollution damage caused by oil spills from tankers.

The MT Solar 1 sank with 2.1 million litters of Petron bunker fuel on Aug. 11 and has caused an oil spill that has hit the coasts of Guimaras and Iloilo. It has also raised fears that it might also hit Negros Occidental.

(For the full story, click Visayan Daily Star, Oct 14, 2006.)