After a week of oil spill, the Singaporean authorities have now touched base with their Malaysian counterparts to cooperate on efforts to address any further impact of the oil spill caused by a collision between a dredger and a stationary bunker vessel at the Pasir Panjang Terminal.
“Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia are part of the Revolving Fund Committee, where the three littoral states can request and provide support for oil spills and clean-up operations in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore,” said a joint statement today by the agencies involved in the whole-of-government efforts.
The agencies are the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the National Environment Agency, the National Parks Board, the National Water Agency (PUB), the Singapore Food Agency, the Singapore Land Authority, and the Sentosa Development Corporation.
The clean-up operation in parts of Singapore’s waters and shore is still ongoing almost a week after the incident.
The agencies said the northern part of the PPT has been cleared of oil slicks since June 18 following the deployment of the Current Buster, an oil recovery and containment system. A thorough cleaning of the oil-stained Berth 36 near the allision area using high-pressure jets is ongoing.
The Public Utilities Board has also assured the public that Singapore’s drinking water supply remains unaffected.
Meanwhile, Singapore Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said that although there has been progress in the clean up operation, it will still take some time before the oil is completely removed.
