Incident

Singapore: Oil leak at Pulau Bukom stopped; cleanup of oil sheens completed

Efforts by Shell to locate the source of the leak in the oil processing unit are ongoing.

Published

2 years ago

December 30, 2024

Admin

2 MPA craft (left) supporting Shell craft in the clean up operations of the oil sheens taken on 28 Dec 9am

There is no more oil leak observed going into the cooling water discharge channel after Shell shut down its oil processing unit at Pulau Bukom on Friday (27 December), stated a joint statement.

The clean-up of the light oil sheens off Pulau Bukom has been completed, informed an update from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), National Environment Agency (NEA), National Parks Board, and Sentosa Development Corporation.

Efforts by Shell to locate the source of the leak in the oil processing unit are ongoing. Additional containment and absorbent booms have been laid in the channel and at the mouth of the channel as precautionary measures.

1 Containment booms deployed in the channel of Pulau Bukom taken on 28 Dec 9am

Absorbent booms at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park and the beaches on Sentosa have also been laid as a precautionary measure. There have been no sightings of oil sheens or oil patches in the waters off Sentosa, and its beaches remain open for water activities.

Background

The oil sheens, discovered by Shell on 26 December at approximately 9:30 am, was reported to the MPA and the NEA at 11:58 am and 1:15 pm, respectively. An MPA craft reached the incident site at 12:15 pm to assess the situation and to provide support.

Initial assessments on 26 December determined the scale of oil sheens to be minor, with no risk to public safety or environmentally sensitive areas, given the containment measures Shell had implemented.

MPA deployed three patrol craft on 27 December when Shell requested support to hasten the clean-up of the light oil sheens off Pulau Bukom.

NEA is investigating the incident with MPA, and actions will be taken if any wrongdoing or lapse is discovered.

The leak in Shell’s oil processing unit is a different system from Shell’s earlier slop pipeline leak on 20 October 2024.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 30 December 2024

Related Topics:Others - Environment Others - Incident

Up Next

MSC 109th session pushes adoption of alternative marine fuels

Don't Miss

DNV launches competence standards for use of methanol and ammonia as bunker fuel

Incident

MPA probes Singapore Strait collision involving fishing vessel, bulk carrier

MPA says there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel in the incident involving China-registered fishing vessel “Lu Qing Yuan Yu” and Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux” .

Published

4 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (22 September) said it is investigating the incident involving the China-registered fishing vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu and the Panama-registered bulk carrier First Margaux in the Singapore Strait on 17 September.

MPA said there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel or pollution arising from the incident and navigational traffic was not affected.

Videos circulating on social media showed the bulk carrier colliding with the fishing vessel.

“The fishing vessel took on water during the incident but remained afloat and stable, with the crew taking measures to manage the situation onboard,” MPA said.

The vessel was subsequently towed to Raffles Reserved Anchorage for assessment.

Essential crew remained onboard to support the tow, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force supported the transfer of other crew to shore.

MPA added it also issued navigational safety broadcasts to keep other vessels clear of the tow and escorted the vessel into port with a MPA craft.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Arnold Pohen
Published: 25 September, 2026

Incident

MPA: 25 crew rescued after abandoning “MSC HERMES III” east of Vietnam

MRCC Singapore coordinated the rescue after receiving a distress alert at about 8.45am as the vessel was within Singapore’s Maritime Search and Rescue Region.

Published

2 days ago

September 23, 2026

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (22 September) said all 25 crew members from the Liberia-registered container vessel MSC HERMES III were rescued on 22 September 2026.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Singapore coordinated the rescue after receiving a distress alert at about 8.45am (Singapore Time).

“The vessel was within Singapore’s Maritime Search and Rescue Region (MSRR), about 300km east of Vietnam,” MPA said in a statement.

MRCC Singapore immediately issued a broadcast requesting vessels in the vicinity to render assistance. Three vessels responded, and MSC RUBY recovered all 25 crew members after they had abandoned MSC HERMES III in a lifeboat.

“All 25 crew members are safe, with no injuries reported,” MPA said.

“MRCC Singapore is coordinating with the Vietnamese MRCC on arrangements for the rescued crew members to return safely to shore.”

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 23 September, 2026

Incident

Peninsula: Missing “Hercules Star” crew member found dead after Dubai incident

Firm confirmed crew member reported missing following last week’s incident involving bunker tanker “Hercules Star” off Dubai has been found dead.

Published

1 week ago

September 18, 2026

Admin

Marine fuels supplier Peninsula on Thursday (17 September) confirmed that the crew member reported missing following last week’s incident involving bunker tanker Hercules Star off Dubai has been found dead.

The confirmation brings the death toll from the incident to two.

“Following the report of a loss of life during the incident involving the Hercules Star in the early hours of 9th September whilst at anchor off Dubai, we regret to announce that the missing crew member has been found deceased,” company said.

“Their family have been informed, and we continue to offer our full support and our deepest condolences.”

“All members of the Hercules Star crew have now been repatriated and we continue to support them.”

According to a Reuters report last week, citing preliminary assessments by maritime security sources, the vessel may have been struck by a drone.

The report also said the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report of a vessel listing while at anchor about 24 nautical miles off the UAE’s Port Rashid, with the condition “possibly indicating water ingress following an attack from an unknown projectile”.

Photo credit: Peninsula
Published: 18 September, 2026