The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has announced the completion of underwater oil removal/recovery operations in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, after the sinking of MT Princess Empress.

Yesterday, 16 June 2023, PCG's Marine Environmental Protection Commander, CG Vice Admiral Robert Patrimonio, joined the PCG Incident Management Team led by CG Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla, in presiding over the final inspection.

They were briefed on the final underwater oil removal/recovery operation on board Diving Support Vessel (DSV) Fire Opal.

Based on the ROV live videos, all eight cargo oil tanks were now empty, and the only remaining observations were oil drips from the cargo piping line.

The PCG — with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Oriental Mindoro LGU — witnessed the final underwater oil removal/recovery operation of the salvage company.

During the inspection and briefing, the Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. (MSTC) assured the PCG of completing the underwater oil removal/recovery operations by showing all eight cargo oil tanks and the ship's operational tank with no trace of oil.

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

It started its underwater oil removal/recovery operations on 29 May 2023, with 20 days to accomplish its objective.

Following the completion of DSV Fire Opal's operations, MTSC said two of their tugboats would continue to monitor and conduct containment operations for oil that may leak from the fuel pipes of MT Princess Empress.