Oil slick threatens Western Visayas coasts

[scotsfiancee]

British experts arrive to help assess damage in Guimaras


By Teresa Cerojano
Associated Press
Last updated 09:09pm (Mla time) 08/17/2006


LA PAZ -- British experts arrived Thursday in the central Philippines to help assess and control a major oil spill that could ravage fisheries and other coastal resources in one of the country's poorest provinces, officials said.

In Manila, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the government is appealing to international agencies "to help us accelerate the efforts to clean up the area."

The Solar I started leaking some of the two million liters (528,360 gallons) of fuel oil it was carrying after it sank Friday in deep waters south of the island province of Guimaras, which has been declared a calamity area, about 500 kilometers (310 miles) southeast of Manila. Two of the 20 crewmen were still missing Thursday.

The two British oil spill experts from the International Tanker Oil Pollution Federation "will check the oil pollution, all the clean up to be done, and to assess and come up with the recommendations," said Clemente Cancio, president of tanker owner Sunshine Maritime Development Corp.

He said they were sent by the Luxembourg-based Shipowners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, his company's insurer.

He said the Britons conducted an aerial survey over Guimaras on Thursday and will work closely with the coast guard.

Company secretary Gregorio Flores said they will also determine what equipment may be used to salvage the vessel, which is 900 meters (3,000 feet) under water south of Guimaras.

Provincial Governor Joaquin Nava said the oil slick has covered 300 kilometers (188 miles) of coastline and about 500 hectares (1,236 acres) of mangrove forests.

Nava said the contamination has spread to 20 villages in three towns and several islets. He earlier said the oil spill has affected or damaged 15 square kilometers (10 square miles) of coral reefs, 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) of marine reserves, at least two resort islands and 50 hectares (124 acres) of seaweed plantations.

[A_flyer]

US and the Philippines uses US measurements.

Gallons (UK): A British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 quarts or 4.545 liters.
Gallons (US): United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters.
but as you can see, they are not the same. You will have to adapt to the UK measurements or you will have some surprises... and I don't speak of the French feet (3cm more than the English one).

It just remind me a flight (in Canada) where the crew asked the ground mechanics for a fuel quantity in Kg and they filled the plane with the same quantity ... but in Lbs. The flight run out of fuel at mid distance and go on without any engine. The pilots were good enough to land safely on an old runway (where you had a campsite and a karting circuit).
You will say "why the pilots didn't notice?" just because their fuel gauge system was faulty, so they were obliged to rely on ground crew.