Dredging vessel Vox Maxima is seen in the waters off Sentosa after a collision with a bunker vessel resulting in an oil spill, in Singapore, June 15, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has been working to container and clean up a bunker fuel oil spill involving a Netherlands-flagged dredger, the Vox Maxima, and the Singapore-flagged bunker vessel, the Marine Honour.
The incident occurred Friday afternoon, June 14, at the Pasir Panjang Terminal.
The MPA reported that the Van Oord dredger experienced a sudden loss in both engine and steering control, causing it to strike the stationary Marine Honour. The MPA is investigating the incident, with the vessel’s master and crew assisting.
Both vessels incurred damage above the waterline but remained stable post-allision. There were no reported injuries. However, one of the Marine Honour’s cargo tanks, carrying low-sulphur fuel oil, ruptured during the incident, leading to an oil spill.
The MPA initiated clean-up operations, deploying as many as 18 oil spill response craft over the weekend. The damaged cargo tank has been isolated, and the spill was contained. Dispersants were sprayed on the spill, and an oil skimmer was mobilised to mitigate the impact. Additional precautions were taken by laying booms around the vessels, with a total of 3,100 meters of containment booms expected to be deployed in the coming days.
Despite the incident, navigational safety remains unimpacted, and port operations at PSA continue as usual.
As of June 16, no oil slicks have been reported in the Traffic Separation Scheme of the Singapore Strait, and navigation traffic remains unaffected.
However, parts of the oil spill were carried by currents to southern shorelines, including Sentosa, Labrador Nature Reserve, Southern Islands, Marina South Pier, and East Coast Park, where clean-up operations are taking place.
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