Oil spill in Singapore waters during bunkering operation

The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said an oil spill had taken place at around 5:40pm local time on 28 October during a bunkering operation between a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Ines Corrado and licensed bunker tanker. The authority said that the bunkering ceased immediately.

The MPA said an estimated 5 tonnes of bunker fuel had overflowed during the bunker operation with bulker.

Read an update on the bunker spill

“MPA craft arrived at about 5.50pm and sprayed dispersants. Relevant government agencies have been alerted to keep a lookout for any oil sighting along the shores,” the MPA said in a statement.

The name of bunker tanker was not disclosed. The MPA said that there was no impact to navigational traffic.

In an update MPA said: "As at 8am this morning, there is no oil sighted at sea in the vicinity of the incident and ashore."

It is the third oil spill reported in Singapore waters this year. In June this year more than 400 tonnes of very low sulphur fuel oil were spilt when Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima, suffering a sudden loss of engine and steering control, hit stationary bunker vessel Marine Honour at Pasir Panjang Terminal.

On 20 October there was an oil leak from a Shell land-based pipeline between Bukom Island and Bukom Kecil.

The latest bunkering spill comes at a time when pilots and trials are taking place on the safe bunkering of alternative fuels such as ammonia which poses a different risk to oil spills due to its high toxicity.

Singapore is the world's largest bunkering port.