Sentosa, Singapore: Beaches on Singapore’s Sentosa island were closed on Saturday following an oil spill that spread from a nearby shipping terminal to the popular tourist destination.
A Reuters witness observed Tanjong Beach cordoned off with tape, marking the oil-stained waters and sand to keep visitors away. Signs posted on the beach read, “Oil slick spotted. Clean up in progress. Please stay clear of water.”
An advisory on the Sentosa website confirmed that the waters at Tanjong, Palawan, and Siloso beaches were closed for cleaning. Swimming and sea activities are currently prohibited.
The oil spill originated from Pasir Panjang Terminal, located less than 10 km (six miles) from Sentosa. The spill occurred after a Netherlands-flagged dredger collided with a stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel on Friday afternoon.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) stated on Friday evening that oil had leaked from a damaged cargo tank on the bunker vessel. “The affected cargo tank has been isolated and the spill contained,” the statement read.
In an update on Saturday, the MPA reported observing patches of oil off Pasir Panjang Terminal and along Tanjong, Palawan, and Siloso beaches. The authority has deployed 16 oil spill response craft to spray oil dispersants and collect the slicks from the water surface.
“There is no impact on navigational traffic. Berthing operations at Pasir Panjang Terminal remain unaffected,” the MPA assured.
