Clean-up works on beaches of Kusu, St John's islands being completed: MPA

Channel NewsAsia 7 Feb 14;

SINGAPORE: Clean-up works on the beaches of Kusu Island and St John's Island are being completed, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

MPA said there have been no oil patches reported in Singapore waters since Monday, February 3.

The oil spillage occurred after two separate collisions on January 29 and 30 involving a chemical tanker and container ship, and another container ship and a barge.

As a result of the collisions, about 680 metric tonnes of fuel oil was spilled.

MPA said Sentosa Development Corporation is cooperating with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to ensure the surrounding waters are free from oil pollution.

MPA added that the islands remain open but the public is advised to keep away from the areas on the beaches affected by the oil spill.

NEA will continue to monitor the beaches and will inform the public when the closed parts of the beaches are re-opened.

- CNA/gn

Oil spillage clean-up operations- Final update
MPA 7 Feb 14;

Following the collision between chemical tanker, "Lime Galaxy" and containership, "Feihe", on 29 January and collision between containership, "NYK Themis" and barge "AZ Fuzhou", on 30 January 2014, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has worked with its partners from various agencies and the industry to contain and clean up the bunker fuel oil spilled.

Containership "Feihe" spilled about 280 metric tonnes (mt) of fuel oil, while containership "NYK Themis" spilled about 400mt of fuel oil as a result of the collisions.

As of 7 February 2014, a total of 40 craft, two skimmers, two harbour busters, more than 1000 metres of containment boom and more than 400 personnel were deployed by MPA and oil spill response companies as part of the containment and clean-up efforts at sea.

Since 3 February 2014, no oil patches have been reported in our waters. MPA will continue to monitor our waters closely and carry out any necessary clean up.

Sentosa Development Corporation is completing clean-up works on the beaches of Kusu and St John's Islands and co-operating with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to ensure the surrounding waters are free from oil pollution. The islands remain open, but the public are advised to keep away from the areas on the beaches affected by the oil spill. Signage are located on the beaches to inform and guide the public. NEA will continue to monitor these beaches and will inform the public when the currently closed parts of these beaches are re-opened.

NEA is also working closely with the National Parks Board and the Singapore Land Authority on the clean-up efforts at Pulau Semakau and will provide more updates when the operations are completed.

MPA would like to record its appreciation to the following organisations for their invaluable assistance:

1.Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore
2.Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (NUS)
3.International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited
4.Ministry of Defence
5.National Environment Agency
6.National Parks Board
7.Oil Spill Response Ltd
8.Public Utilities Board
9.Republic of Singapore Air Force
10.Republic of Singapore Navy
11.Semco Salvage & Towage Pte Ltd
12.Sentosa Development Corporation
13.Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd
14.Singapore Salvage Engineers Pte Ltd
15.SMIT Singapore Pte Ltd
16.SPICA Services (S) Pte Ltd
17.Svitzer Salvage Asia Pte Ltd
18.Tian San Shipping Pte Ltd
19.Masters and crew of ships that reported sightings of oil patches

End of release.