Minister for Transport of Singapore, Chee Hong Tat, shared in a post on June 20, details about the oil spill in Singapore that took place following an allision between a dredger and a bunker vessel on June 14.
According to the Minister, significant progress has been made, particularly with the removal of oil slicks at Pasir Panjang Container Terminal and East Coast Park. Oil booms have been strategically placed in various areas to contain the spill, including Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong beaches, Labrador Nature Reserve, Cooper Channel, and other biodiversity-sensitive regions like Chek Jawa Wetlands and Coney Island Park, though no oil has been detected in some of these locations.
The response also included spraying dispersants to prevent the oil from hardening, which would complicate clean-up efforts. Furthermore, the Minister highlighted that the preliminary investigation indicates that the incident was caused by a sudden loss of engine and steering controls on the dredger, not port congestion.
The clean-up will take time, and MPA Singapore, along with various agencies and volunteers, continues to work diligently to mitigate the spill’s impact and prevent further environmental damage. Authorities, will continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary actions to manage and resolve the incident effectively, the Minister concluded.
