MPA: Clean-up ops continue following oil spill in Singapore, affected beaches closed
- Published
by Admin
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Monday (17 June) said it is still working closely with relevant agencies and stakeholders on containment and clean-up operations of the recent oil spill.
The oil spill occurred following an allision between a Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima and a stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour on 14 June.
MPA Chief Executive Eng Dih Teo said one of Marine Honour’s oil cargo tanks ruptured, releasing 400 metric tonnes (mt) of low-sulphur fuel oil into the sea.
“The other half was contained and isolated. All crew are safe,” he said in a social media post.
He added affected beaches have been temporarily closed and the public is advised to stay away to facilitate cleanup.
Eng said MPA is investigating the incident, and has instructed British Marine, the insurer of the bunker tanker, to set up claim contacts to attend to affected parties.
“While navigation in the Traffic Separation Scheme and port operations remain unaffected, an MPA-led Emergency Operations Centre has been coordinating spillage recovery efforts.”
In a statement, MPA said the next phase of the clean-up operations has commenced with the additional deployment of various booms and oil recovery systems.
1,500 metres of booms have been deployed, and an additional 1,600 metres will be deployed over the next few days in designated sites to support the containment of accumulated oil to facilitate the clean- up operation off the beaches and shorelines. Additional booms will also be deployed as a preventive measure off Changi East.
Seven oil recovery assets have been deployed today to skim and collect the remaining oil spillage off the water surface to minimise further spread of the oil.
Location of additional booms and its progress:
- Palawan beach (completed)
- Siloso and Tanjong beach (to complete by 18 June)
- Labrador Nature Reserve (to complete by 18 June)
- Southern islands, selected location at Cooper Channel.
Location of oil absorbent booms:
- Oil absorbent booms have been deployed along stretches of the East Coast Park beaches that are significantly impacted, and at the canal openings.
- As preventive measures, absorbent booms have been deployed at Chek Jawa, Pasir Ris Park and Coney Island.
- Over the next few days, additional containment and absorbent booms will be deployed to protect the fish farms at the East Johor Straits and also biodiverse areas off Pulau Ubin and Changi Creek.
MPA said it has alerted the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities when the incident occurred on 14 June.
Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 18 June 2024
Related Topics:
