Oil spill clean-up completed, no new sightings reported
SINGAPORE – Following two significant oil spill incidents last week, authorities have confirmed that there have been no additional oil sightings at sea or ashore.
A joint statement from nine agencies, including the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA), announced on Oct 30, 2024, that clean-up operations for the Oct 20 Shell leak between Pulau Bukom and Bukom Kechil were successfully completed. This included cleaning oil-stained rock bunds and infrastructure.
Additionally, no oil was observed following the Oct 28 bunkering incident off Changi. The spill occurred when oil overflowed during a bunkering operation between a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier and a licensed bunker tanker. Around five tonnes of oil were spilled, but the operation was halted immediately.
Ongoing Investigations
MPA and NEA continue to investigate the causes of the two incidents. The oil spill from Shell’s facility at Pulau Bukom is still under review, while the Changi bunkering spill is also being examined.
The agencies involved, including National Parks Board and Singapore Food Agency, have also decommissioned the seaward response assets that had been deployed for the clean-up operations.
Precautionary Measures
Containment and absorbent booms, installed as a precautionary measure in areas such as East Coast Park, Kusu Island, St John’s Island, and Lazarus Island, will be progressively removed.
The public was earlier advised by NEA to avoid primary contact water activities near affected beaches, though no new advisories have been issued.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and efforts to prevent further incidents are ongoing.
