ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Crude oil pollution in Singapore’s seas on Friday, June 14 2024 has now become widespread.
Singapore authorities expanded cleanup efforts to more areas. An oil leak from a damaged cargo tank at Pasir Panjang Terminal has spread into Changi waters on Monday, June 17 2024.
Reporting from the Strait Times, Tuesday, June 18 2024, around 1.5 thousand booms have been deployed to contain the oil spill. An additional 1.6 thousand booms are scheduled to be installed at several beaches on Sentosa Island and the Labrador and Southern Islands Nature Reserve, today.
This information, the outlet said, refers to a joint statement by the Maritime and Harbor Authority of Singapore, the National Environment Agency of Singapore (NEA), the National Parks Board (NParks), national water agency PUB, Sentosa Development Corporation and the Singapore Food Agency. Booms have also been installed along East Coast Park beaches and at canal openings to trap oil and prevent it from flowing back into the canal. It will also be placed at East Changi as a precautionary measure.
“Some oil has been spotted in Changi today,” the joint statement said, adding that oil-absorbing waves had been deployed in advance in biodiversity sensitive areas at the Chek Jawa Wetlands on Pulau Ubin, Coney Island Park and Pasir Ris Park. N. Sivasothi, senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore, said that the movement of oil towards waters east of Singapore is normal, considering the current southwest monsoon season with winds blowing from the south.
“This is still troubling. We certainly hope that the volume of oil has reduced significantly,” he said.
Protect Sensitive Areas from Oil Spills
Muhammad Nasry, Executive Director of Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity, said Chek Jawa is home to mangrove, mudflat and seagrass habitats. Layers of oil can block light from reaching seagrass beds, which need sunlight to photosynthesize.
Seagrasses are also known to lose chlorophyll, a compound in plants that allows them to convert sunlight into nutrients, when exposed to chemical pollutants, he said.
“If oil is deposited on a sandy coastline, the oily sand can be removed easily. But in mangrove habitats, if oil gets in, it doesn’t come out easily,” he explained.
Authorities said additional barriers and absorbers would be deployed over the next few days to protect fish farms in the East Johor Strait, Chek Jawa Wetlands and Changi River.
The Current Buster system, a special oil floating containment and recovery device deployed from ships, will be deployed today, Tuesday, at the Changi Exhibition Center as a precautionary measure. Each oil spread prevention system consists of a boom with a section extending below the water surface to seal and collect oil on the water surface. While West Coast Park was not affected, oil-absorbing booms were also deployed there to protect the mangroves at Marsh Garden, the statement said.
Sivasothi said it was a relief to hear that mitigation protocols had been activated.
“Early deployment will certainly help protect sensitive areas with biodiversity and fish farms in the eastern Johor Strait,” he said.
On Friday, June 14 2024, the Dutch-flagged dredger Vox Maxima rammed the stationary Singapore-flagged bunker ship, Marine Honor, at the Pasir Panjang Terminal. The dredger suddenly lost control of the engine and steering. The incident caused the rupture of one of Marine Honor’s tanks, causing oil to leak into the sea. Residents and visitors to the affected area said there was a “strong smell of oil” following the incident.
List of beaches in Singapore that are temporarily closed To facilitate cleanup efforts, the following beaches will be closed until further notice:
Beaches at East Coast Park (from Areas B to H)
Labrador Nature Reserve (Jetty and Rocky Shore) Sentosa beaches remain open to the public, however marine activities and swimming are not permitted on Tanjong, Palawan and Siloso beaches.
Beaches on the islands of St John, Lazarus and Kusu.
NParks said they had received an overwhelming response from members of the public who volunteered to help. However, for their safety, volunteers will not be deployed for shoreline clean-up. In a Facebook post on Monday, June 17 2024,
Singapore’s Minister of National Development Desmond Lee reminded the public to stay away from beaches, because cleaning operations must be carried out by professionals.
The West Coast GRC MP also thanked the volunteers who helped patrol East Coast Park and West Coast Park, as well as those who helped with surveys in the Southern Islands over the weekend. (ATN)
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