An oil spill in Singapore has caused alarm following a collision between a dredger and a bunkering vessel. This incident has caused the fuel to spread to several coastal areas of the island, putting a marine reserve at risk. Local authorities have intensified their efforts to contain the spill and absorb the spilled oil.
Tide spreads oil spill in Singapore
The incident occurred at the Pasir Panjang Terminal at the Port of Singapore. The Dutch-flagged dredger collided with a Singapore-flagged bunkering vessel that was anchored in the port. According to the latest report, the oil leak has been controlled, but tidal currents have carried the treated oil to different coastlines, including Sentosa, the Labrador Nature Reserve, the Southern Islands, Marina South Pier and East Coast Park.
A layer of oil has also been detected around the Sister’s Islands Marine Park, a 400,000 square meter marine protected area. Singapore, known as a major shipping and bunkering hub, now faces a potentially significant environmental impact. The local newspaper The Straits Times reported that fishermen are concerned about an increase in fish mortality.
Singapore controls spill without affecting navigation
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has taken action to contain the spill, isolating the tanker and deploying 16 response vessels to spray oil dispersants and absorb the fuel from the surface of the water. Fortunately, shipping traffic and berthing operations at Pasir Panjang Terminal have not been affected.
Andrew Dixon, manager of a sustainable resort near Singapore, commented that spills of this magnitude are rare and called for tough penalties to prevent future incidents. The dredger responsible for the collision, identified as Vox Maxima, belongs to Dutch marine contractor Van Oord. The bunker vessel involved is the Marine Honour.
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Source and photo: portalportuario
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