The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is preparing for the arrival of the Monrovian-registered Dynamic Support Vessel (DSV) "Fire Opal," which will conduct the SIPHONING OPERATIONS of the remaining oil onboard the sunken MT Princess Empress in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Today, 22 May 2023, the PCG conducted a Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, and Security (CIQS) Coordinating Meeting at the National Headquarters, Port Area, Manila.

On behalf of the PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Artemio Abu, the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) Chairman for the Oriental Mindoro Oil Spill Response and PCG Deputy Commandant for Operations, CG Vice Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr, presided over the meeting together with Marine Environmental Protection Commander, CG Vice Admiral Robert Patrimonio, as the Co-Chairman.

The DSV "Fire Opal" was chartered by the Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. (MSTC) and contracted by the Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Insurance Club, Shipowners Protection Mutual.

The vessel departed Singapore on 19 May 2023 and will arrive in Subic on 26 May 2023.

The officials agreed and committed to conducting "within-the-arrival-day" CIQS formalities in Subic and at the sunken site in Naujan, as it will take approximately two days to mobilize and prepare for its departure from Subic going to Naujan.

During the meeting, they also discussed that 19 foreign specialized technicians would arrive in the Philippines. Moreover, the ship agent is applying for a special working permit at the Bureau of Immigration (BI)-Batangas.

Representatives from the BI, Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), DSV Fire Opal ship agent, and MSTC joined the meeting, where the PCG recognized their invaluable support in the ongoing oil spill response operations.