Containment and clean up efforts following the collision between the Malaysian-registered tanker, MT Bunga Kelana 3 and the St Vincent and The Grenadines-registered bulk carrier, MV Waily continued for the fourth day.

Efforts in the waters off Changi East and East Coast Park are ongoing, with 21 craft equipped with 6 skimmers and 1,915 metres of containment booms deployed. The seaward efforts involved 171 personnel.

No significant patches of oil have been observed in the Traffic Separation Scheme off Changi East and within the anchorages of Singapore's port waters. There are isolated patches of oil close to East Coast Park and Changi East and we are working to contain and clean up these patches.

This morning, MT Bunga Kelana 3 was moved from her previous location in the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) to a Johor anchorage in the east. This was after she was certified safe to be moved by the classification society, American Bureau of Shipping. As a precautionary measure, 4 tugs equipped with dispersants and containment booms and 2 further tugs to assist in navigation were deployed to escort the vessel. MT Bunga Kelana 3 arrived at the Johor anchorage safely at about 1:20pm.

Beyond the conventional methods, MPA experimented with imbiber beads which are usually used by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to clean up chemical spills on land. Imbiber beads are spherical plastic particles that absorb organic liquids.Results thus far have been encouraging and with support from SCDF, we are deploying more imbiber beads to supplement other efforts.

MPA has also deployed lightweight shallow water booms and a harbour buster to collect and contain oil patches close to East Coast Park. Harbour buster is an oil spill collection system suitable for deployment in shallow waters.

MPA continues to work with the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities in line with the Standard Operating Procedure for Joint Oil Spill Combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore and has offered our assistance should it be needed.

Traffic in the Traffic Separation Scheme of the Singapore Strait remains unaffected.

Members of the public can contact MPA's 24-hours Marine Safety Control Centre at 6325 2489 to report any sighting of oil slick in our waters or coastlines.

Further details will be released when available.

End of release

ISSUED BY THE MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE (MPA)