Oil spill containment and clean-up efforts are being carried out in Singapore’s waters following the collision of container vessels Wan Hai 301 and APL Denver off Pasir Gudang Port, Johor, Malaysia.
As of January 5, 2016, a total of 17 vessels and 222 personnel have been deployed in the operation and progress of the clean-up is being made along the western coastlines of Pulau Ubin and Nenas Channe, according to the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore.
Some patches of oil were spotted off CAFHI Jetty and also along the shorelines of Pasir Ris Beach, Changi Point Ferry Terminal, Changi Sailing Club and Changi Beach in the early hours of the morning. Contractors were deployed to clean up the affected shorelines.
Oil spill response vessels as well as containment booms and spill recovery equipment such as harbour busters and skimmers have also been deployed at the affected areas.
MPA said that, as a flag state of one of the vessels involved in the incident, it will investigate the cause of the collision, which occurred in the late evening hours on January 3 between Singapore-registered containership Wan Hai 301 and a Gibraltar-flagged boxship APL Denver.
Both vessels are currently berthed at Pasir Gudang Port and are in stable condition.
MPA added that Singapore’s port operations remain unaffected.