Four crew members from the Dutch dredger Vox Maxima are facing charges under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 for their roles in a significant oil spill in Singapore on June 14.
This spill, one of the most severe in the region over the past decade, occurred when the Vox Maxima collided with the stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour at the Pasir Panjang Terminal, releasing approximately 400 tonnes of fuel into the sea.
The spill severely impacted nearby coastlines, including East Coast Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, Sentosa, and Johor’s Kota Tinggi, leading to water activity suspensions as cleanup efforts began.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a sudden loss of engine and steering control on the Vox Maxima, which the crew allegedly failed to handle properly.
Furthermore, authorities claim the crew did not ensure that emergency steering was performed when emergency power was available for the vessel’s steering gear, resulting in the collision.
Additionally, key engineering watch officers are accused of not maintaining adequate power reserves for the steering gear when the engine room was put on standby.
The case has been postponed, with the accused crew members scheduled to reappear in court on December 4.
