Carrier collision causes massive oil spill

60 metric tonnes of bunker fuel were spilled on Singapore's Temasek Fairway.

According to a report from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the agency received a report at about 1400hrs on 9 September (Singapore time) that a Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier “Sunny Horizon”, collided with the “DL Salvia", a Korean-registered Liquefied Petroleum Gas carrier.

The collision occurred at the Temasek Fairway, about 700 metres east of Sultan Shoal. MPA said the bunker tank on “DL Salvia” was breached and less than 60 metric tonnes of bunker was spilled, but reassured that the area of spill is concentrated within Temasek Fairway.

MPA has dispatched its patrol craft to deal with the oil spill. Oil spill response companies were also activated to augment the patrol craft. A total of seven patrol and anti-pollution craft have been deployed to clean up the spilled oil. Work is currently continuing and MPA is co-ordinating the clean up with other government agencies and the ship owners.

The two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored in the West Jurong anchorage. MPA has issued navigational broadcasts to ships to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site. There is no report of injury and port operations remain unaffected.

MPA said it is investigating the cause of the collision.