30/06/2024
On Monday, Singaporean authorities reported an incident involving a dredger boat that experienced a sudden loss of engine and steering control. This resulted in a collision with a stationary cargo tanker, causing an oil spill that has affected a portion of the southern shores of the city-island.
On Friday, the Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima collided with the Singaporean fuel supply ship Marine Honor. The collision resulted in the rupture of one of the cargo tanks on the Marine Honor, causing a spill of low-sulfur oil into the sea. While the leak has been successfully contained, tidal movements have dispersed the spilled oil, which had been treated with dispersants, along the shoreline, including the popular resort island of Sentosa.
The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority, in collaboration with the National Environment Agency, the National Parks Board, and Sentosa Development Corporation, has announced that the captain and crew members of the Vox Maxima are actively cooperating with the ongoing investigations.
As a result, a section of the beachfront at a public park, beaches on three southern islands, and a nature reserve have been temporarily closed to facilitate thorough cleanup efforts. While Sentosa beaches remain accessible to the public, sea activities and swimming are strictly prohibited until further notice.
In response to the oil spill incident, Oil Spill Response Limited, an industry-funded cooperative specializing in spill response, will be deploying floating containment and recovery devices to effectively manage the situation. These devices will corral the oil on the water's surface, enabling two skimmer craft to efficiently lift and transfer the oil into designated storage tanks.
The cleanup operation involves a substantial workforce of over 250 dedicated personnel. To effectively contain the oil spill, approximately 1.5 kilometers of containment booms have been strategically positioned. Additionally, plans are in place to install another 1.6 kilometers of temporary barriers over the coming days, further preventing the spread of oil onto the shoreline.
The National Parks Board also deployed oil-absorbing booms to protect mangroves at another park that hasn't been affected so far. Members of the public who volunteered to help have been assigned to patrol the park for early signs of oil slicks.
