No further sighting of oil was reported in the Singapore port waters following a sea recce conducted by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's (MPA) craft at 0800hrs today.

The clean-up operation for the oil spill which resulted from the collision between freighter MV Hermion and bunker tanker Neptank VII at 0145hrs on 12 June 2002, about 4.5km south-east of Sentosa, was completed at 0830hrs today.

According to an independent survey conducted by Neptank VII's ship operator Neptune Associated Shipping (NAS), the amount of marine fuel oil spilled was about 350 tonnes.

The swift deployment of marine personnel and anti-oil pollution equipment and craft by the MPA with assistance from East Asia Response Limited (EARL), Singapore Oil Spill Response Centre (SOSRC), NAS, PSA Marine and Shell helped to minimise the impact of the oil spill.A total of 12 anti-oil pollution craft and some 100 personnel were involved in 3-day clean-up operation.

The beaches in the East Coast and Sentosa, and Marina Bay remain clean.Fish farms off St John's Island remain unaffected. The oil boom deployed off Marina Bay will be removed.

The MPA's patrol craft will continue to monitor the Singapore port waters. Investigation of the incident is in progress.

End of Release.