Singapore puts efforts to clean up oil spill from ships collision

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it is co-ordinating the containment and clean up efforts of the resultant oil spill after the ship collision in the Singapore Straits on Tuesday.

A Malaysian-registered tanker, MT Bunga Kelana 3 and the St Vincents and The Grenadines-registered bulk carrier, MV Waily collided at about 6:03 a.m.local time on Tuesday.

According to a updated statement by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the operator of the tanker indicated that some 2,500 tons of crude oil could have spilled into the sea. No injuries were reported.

A helicopter recce by the Republic of Singapore Air Force at 2: 20 p.m. found an oil slick measuring 4 kilometres by 1 kilometre located about 6 kilometres south of Changi East.

The MPA said that it has dispatched four patrol and emergency response craft to the affected area.

As at 5.30pm, more than 85 personnel were on site as part of the containment and clean up efforts. A total of 20 craft, comprising 5 from MPA, 5 from the Malaysian authorities and 10 from oil spill response and other companies were on site.

The response craft are equipped with 41 tons of non-toxic and bio-degradable oil spill dispersants, 1,500 meters of containment booms and 2 skimmers with fast tanks. The dispersants help to break the oil slick into smaller globules to facilitate biodegrading by micro-organisms. The containment booms are used to contain the oil slick and to facilitate collection by skimmers and fast tanks.

Beyond the efforts at sea, MPA has worked with the operator of the tanker to have on standby, 200 personnel to clean up our coastlines should the need arise.

In addition, MPA is working with relevant agencies such as the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, National Environment Agency, National Parks Board, Police Coast Guard and Republic of Singapore Navy. MPA has also alerted marinas, sea sports centres, ferry terminals and other waterfront facilities to be prepared for possible impact arising from the oil spill.

MPA has notified and is working with the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities in line with the Standard Operating Procedure for Joint Oil Spill Combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOP).

Efforts to contain and clean up the oil spill are ongoing. The oil spill and the containment and clean up efforts have not affected traffic in the Singapore Strait, the MPA said.

Source: Xinhua