KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — An oil spill caused by a dredger hitting a stationary oil tanker has turned parts of Singapore’s southern coast black, including the popular tourist island of Sentosa, and raised concerns about its possible consequences. on marine life, as cleanup efforts continued Sunday.
The Dutch-flagged dredger Vox Maxima collided with the Singaporean fuel supply ship Marine Honor on Friday, causing damage to its cargo tank, spilling oil into the sea.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore explained in a statement on Saturday night that the leak of crude oil from the vessel had been contained, and that the oil that came out of the ship had been treated with dispersants.
But due to ocean currents, the treated oil washed ashore, including Sentosa and other southern islands, a nature reserve and a coastal public park. Sentosa, which receives millions of visitors each year, has one of the country’s two casinos as well as golf courses and the only amusement park at Universal Studios in Southeast Asia.
The authorities closed part of the park promenade and the nature reserve to facilitate the cleaning work. Sentosa beach will remain open, but bathing and water activities have been prohibited.
Workers in orange overalls could be seen removing contaminated sand on an empty sandy beach in Sentosa on Sunday. The black water stained the coast with crude oil.
Authorities have mobilized 18 vessels and deployed nearly 1,500 meters (1,640 yards) of temporary floating containment booms to trap the oil.
“In the coming days, more barriers will be placed to prevent further spread of oil along the coast and to facilitate the recovery of those trapped on the affected coasts and lagoons to prevent them from returning to the sea,” the statement indicated.
Ecologists and biologists are monitoring the full extent of the damage to marine flora and fauna.
Local environmental group Marine Stewards said it had seen photos of dead fish and otters and kingfishers stained by the oil spill.
