SINGAPORE: The removal of bulk oil from the sea and Singapore’s beaches is nearly completed, with about 550 tonnes of oil-soaked sand and debris collected from all affected beaches, authorities said on Monday (Jun 24).
A dredger hit a bunker vessel at Pasir Panjang Terminal on Jun 14, causing oil to spill into the water. In the aftermath of the incident, oil slicks were spotted at several beaches around Singapore.
Hundreds of workers have been involved in the clean-up efforts, with the bulk of oil-soaked sand removed from most of the affected beaches, except Tanjong and Palawan beaches at Sentosa.
In a press conference on Monday as well, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat gave a timeline of the authorities’ response immediately after the oil spill.
He said the response times were “in line with international industry practices for responses to oil spills”.
JUN 14
2.22pm: The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) were informed that Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima had hit a stationary bunker vessel Marine Honour at Pasir Panjang Terminal.
2.33pm: MPA’s first patrol craft arrives at the incident site. It sprayed dispersant on the observed oil sheens to treat the oil.
The dispersant is used to break down the oil, which will facilitate subsequent clean-up operations at sea and land. Without the dispersant, it would have hardened over time and become more difficult to remove.
Eleven more vessels from MPA and its contractors were deployed to assist in the response, including spraying dispersants or monitoring for oil slicks in the water.
Mr Chee said that MPA focused on the safety of the damaged vessel to confirm that it would not sink and conducted checks to ensure that the crew were safe and the spillage was under control.
There was also no further spillage after the initial gush, which released an estimated 400 tonnes of oil into the sea.
