Singapore: The authorities on Sunday announced that the beaches on three Singapore islands will be shut until further notice after an oil spill on Friday spread to several coastlines, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported.
The beaches at St John’s, Lazarus and Kusu islands will be closed after oil slicks were seen at the first two islands.
Staff from NParks, together with volunteers from Friends of Marine Park, visited St John’s and Lazarus islands on Sunday to observe and document the effect of the oil spill in these areas.
The closure of the beaches at the islands is in addition to areas B to H of East Coast Park, as well as the jetty and rocky shore of Labrador Nature Reserve, which have been shut since Saturday, according to CNA report.
Sentosa’s beaches remain open for people. However, sea activities and swimming are still not permitted at Tanjong, Palawan and Siloso beaches.
As of 1:30 pm on Sunday, there were no signs of oil slick within Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. However, the oil sheen was witnessed in the surrounding waters.
The latest update was a joint statement released by the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), the National Environment Agency (NEA), the National Parks Board (NParks) and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) on Sunday evening.
Oil washed up on some of the beaches of Singapore after dredger Vox Maxima hit stationary bunker vessel Marine Honour at Pasir Panjang Terminal on Friday at about 2:20 pm (local time). This causes some oil from a cargo tank on the bunker vessel to spill into the water.
Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) is working with British Marine, the insurer of the stationary tanker, to set up a contact for third-party claims by “affected parties who have been impacted”.
In the joint statement, the authorities said the dredger had reported a sudden loss in engine and steering control before it hit the bunker vessel on Friday. This resulted in the rupture of the vessel’s oil cargo tanks and its contents of low-sulphur fuel oil were released into the sea.
MPA patrol craft were being used to spray dispersants on the spill. The authority’s response contractor was activated and they mobilised an oil skimmer to reduce the impact of the spill.
Singapore: Beaches on three islands shut after oil spill spread to several coastlines
