At about 1120hrs today, a collision between a dredger "Volvox Delta", and a bunker tanker "Allwell Perfect", occurred off Sisters Island. The bunker tanker was damaged in the vicinity of the engine room. A small amount of oil from its engine room was spilled into the sea. The minor oil pollution was cleaned up quickly by anti-pollution craft deployed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). There was no injury to personnel.

SMIT International has been engaged by the bunker tanker owners. Water was observed entering the engine room and for the safety of the vessel, it was beached off Selegi Beacon (north of Sisters Island).

The Singapore-registered 313 gross tonnage bunker tanker was carrying 304 tons of marine gas oil and was heading towards the Eastern Anchorage from Jurong. The cargo tanks were not damaged. Action is being taken to transfer the cargo to another vessel. The Dutch-registered dredger of 7,906 gross tonnage had left Batam and was on its way to Jurong. It sustained minor damage.

The MPA is investigating into the incident.

End of Statement.