Suspected molasses spill detected in Sagay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – While a suspected molasses spill was observed in the waters of Sagay City, Negros Occidental, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) northern Negros Occidental, said that it is not a cause for alarm.

Commander Jansen Benjamin, head of PCG northern Negros Occidental, said that they have already directed the M/T Mary Queen of Charity 490GT, to stop their operations, after Coast Guard personnel during an inspection, observed discoloration in waters surrounding the vessel at the Sagay feeder port on Wednesday morning.

Benjamin said that the vessel was conducting shore to ship operations from a lorry truck unloading molasses to the ship, when the discoloration was observed around 9 a.m. He, however, has yet to determine the extent of the volume of the spill in the waters.

Benjamin said they directed the PCG marine environmental protection unit to conduct water sampling, which would enable them to confirm if it was a molasses spill.

Unlike oil, molasses, a thick dark to light brown syrup separated from raw sugar, is more dense than water, according to Benjamin. But, he said they are not complacent, since they have yet to know the extent of the affected area.

“We’re on guard and monitoring the situation,” Benjamin said, adding that containment and recovery operations will also be conducted.

Benjamin said that molasses may not be that harmful to the marine environment, but if the affected area is big, it could block sunlight that could disrupt or affect corals.

It could also be a factor in the overgrowth of micro bacteria in the waters, he added.

Benjamin said that upon checking the vessel for a possible leak, the chief mate told PCG that the estimated 300 metric tons of molasses already loaded in the vessel were intact.

Despite this, Benjamin said that they would have to do their own inspection of the vessel to determine where the spill came from. He suspects that it could also possibly be from the pipe connection from the truck to the ship during loading operations.

The PCG has also advised the captain of the vessel to file a marine protest.

Meanwhile, the city government through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) is also conducting an investigation about the incident.

In a statement, Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. assured that all immediate actions are now being taken to minimize the damage of the alleged molasses spill.