Singapore – Tanker Collision Leads To 4,500-Tonne Oil Spill
About 4,500 tonnes of crude oil has been spilled near Horsburgh Lighthouse on the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca following the 2 January collision of oil tanker Alyarmouk and Sinar Kapuas, a bulk carrier.
The estimate, by V.Ships UK, manager of the 116,039 dwt Alyarmouk, was reported by the Maritime Authority of Singapore in a press release.
“Two oil spill response companies have been activated to combat the resultant oil spill,” the MPA said. “The companies have since deployed four craft equipped with dispersants, oil booms and skimmers to the site.”
The MPA does not rule out that the oil patches may affect northern parts of the island of Bintan, Indonesia, due to the effect of tidal currents. The authority has therefore been in contact with the Indonesian authorities with the aim of jointly tackling the oil spill in the straits of Malacca and Singapore and has offered assistance in containment operations.
In the collision, which happened at 06.00 local time on 2 January, Alyarmouk, operated by Libya’s General National Maritime, suffered damage to one of its cargo tanks.
The MPA immediately dispatched a helicopter to assess the situation and broadcast alerts to inform ships near the vicinity.
Since then, Alyarmouk and Sinar Kapuas, owned by Samudera Shipping Line of Singapore, have been anchored safely for inspection. No injuries have been reported as a consequence of the collision and traffic in the Strait of Singapore remains unaffected.
