Singapore rushes to deal with oil spill after dredger collision

The recent oil spill in Singapore rapidly spread beyond the island nation’s luxury beach resorts at Sentosa to a marine reserve and other areas as local authorities worked on extensive cleanup efforts. Sentosa’s beaches remained open to the public, but swimming and water activities were prohibited at Tanjong, Palawan and Siloso beaches on the island’s west coast.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported that the oil spread into Singapore waters after the Dutch-registered Vox Maxima dredger collided with Singapore-flagged bunker vessel, Marine Honor, on 14th June. The leak was contained and treated with dispersants by 15th June but some of the spill had spread because of tidal currents.

This incident occurred at the beginning of the Hari Raya Haji holiday weekend, during which locals and tourists head to Sentosa and other famous, local landmarks.

“There have been many cases of wildlife affected — a number of kingfishers, otters and monitor lizards covered in oil, seabirds whose legs are stained with oil. We have also received reports of dead fish and a dead sea snake,” commented Marine Stewards’ founder Sue Ye.

Singapore’s outlying islands of Lazarus, St. John’s and Kusu were closed to the public on Sunday 16th June as the slick reached the shores of the first two locations, which are highly popular among day trippers who reach the islands on ferries and yacht charters.

Authorities deployed skimmer vessels for the clean-up operation and laid nearly 1,500 meters of oil absorbent booms to protect a coastal reserve lined with mangroves.