S'pore collision causes 4,500 tonne oil spill headed towards resort island Bintan

The Libyan-registered tanker Alyarmouk collided with the Singapore-registered bulker Sinar Kapuas at 0600hrs local time on Friday around 11 nm northeast of Pedra Branca, known to mariners for Horsborgh Lighthouse.

In an update on the incident the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said V.Ships UK, managers of the Alyarmouk, estimated 4,500 tonnes of Madura crude had been spilled as a result of the collision.

“Taking into account the weather and tidal currents, patches of oil may affect the northern parts of the island of Bintan,” MPA said.

The northern shores of Bintan are home to a number of international beach resorts including the upscale Banyan Tree Bintan and the popular Club Med Bintan, which are reached by a 45 minute ferry ride from Singapore.

The MPA said two oil spill response companies had been activated to combat the spill and they had deployed four craft equipped with dispersants, oil booms and skimmers to the site of the incident.

“MPA is also working closely with the Indonesian authorities in line with the standard operating procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and has offered its assistance in the containment operations,” it said.

No crew members were reported to have been injured in the collision. The Alyarmouk was sailing from Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia to China, while the Sinar Kapuas was on voyage from Hong Kong to Singapore when the collision occurred.