400-tonne Singapore oil spill prompts criminal charges warning
- Legal experts say it could take months to complete an investigation into the collision that led to days of oil slicks on Sentosa Island
The collision created a rupture in one of the oil cargo tanks on Marine Honor, which caused low-sulphur fuel oil to leak into the sea, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, National Environment Agency, National Parks Board and Sentosa Development Corporation said in a joint statement on Sunday.
Local media reported that about 400 tonnes of oil were spilled as a result.
Several beaches on Sentosa Island have been closed since the weekend because of the spill, including at East Coast Park, St John’s, Lazarus and Kusu Islands. Sea activities and swimming are not allowed at the three beaches, even though they remain open to the public.
“Investigations are still ongoing, but preliminary findings show that the allision [ship collision] on June 14 was caused by the dredger experiencing sudden loss of engine and steering controls. It is not due to port congestion, as our port waters and anchorages are not congested,” Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said on Tuesday evening.