Pertamina handling oil spill from its oil tanker in Ternate

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina is continuing its efforts to handle the oil fuel (BBM) spill from its oil tanker, MT Patriot Andalan, after being hit by big sea waves in the company?s Ternate BBM port, eastern Indonesia.

Pertamina?s Vice President for Corporate Communication, Ali Mundakir said in Jakarta on Thursday that MT Patriot Andalan was anchoring in the Ternate BBM port to unload its cargo of diesel fuel at the volume of 5,000 kiloliter and oil fuels (premium) at 2,000 kiloliter. ?Initially, as big sea waves hit the port, the workers on duty stopped the process of unloading, pending for better weather condition. When condition was getting better, the process was resumed on Tuesday night. But during the proceeding, there were recurring big waves, causing disconnected hose, and the ship hit severely the breasting dolphin and caused the jetty collapsed,? he said.

According to him, the collision also caused the pipes of avtur and kerosene on the port disconnected from the catwalk. Then it also caused a leakage in compartment 5 and diesel fuel spill into the sea.

He said that Pertamina has coordinated with all sides concerned to anticipate any possibility of fire, especially for those who tried to scoop the oil spills. The company has sent its Marine Guard and Marine Region VII from Makassar to conduct any rescuing effort if needed, Preparations were also made to transfer the remaining diesel fuel in the tanker ship to another ship.

Pertamina is now fixing the damages caused by the big sea waves. Temporarily, Pertamina will secure the oil fuels supply, by using the supply point in Tobelo and Bitung. The BBM supplies will be transported by tanker trucks and ferry ships.

Editing by Benget Besalicto ST