An oil spill that took place in the waters off Pulau Bukom on Sunday (20 Oct) has prompted the authorities to advise the public not to swim at certain beaches in Singapore.
In an advisory on Monday (21 Oct), the National Environment Agency (NEA) said primary contact water activities, including swimming, shouldn’t be conducted at:
This is “as a precautionary measure”, NEA added, as it continues to monitor the situation.
Source: National Environment Agency
The public may check out the NEA website for beach water quality updates.
The oil spill was caused by leakage from a Shell pipeline between Pulau Bukom and Pulau Bukom Kecil, causing oil sheens to be detected in the water channel between the two islands.
Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore – MPA on Facebook
In a media release on Monday (21 Oct), Shell estimated that about 30 to 40 metric tonnes of slop leaked into the sea from its pipeline. Slop is a mixture of oil and water.
Although the leak was stopped by around 3pm on Sunday, Shell has deployed containment booms, anti-pollution crafts, and sprayed dispersant to contain and break up the oil.
Clean-up efforts by Shell underway. Source: Shell via Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore – MPA on Facebook
The company expressed its appreciation for the support and cooperation from the authorities and community as it works to minimise the impact.
In a joint media release by nine Government agencies on Monday, they said the agencies were “working closely” with Shell to clean up the oil.
Besides the water channel, there have been no other oil sightings as of 3pm on Monday, added the release.
That means no oil has been observed at:
Despite this, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has, as a precautionary measure, deployed two current buster systems — one off Changi and another to the west of Singapore.
The current buster system stationed off Changi. Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore – MPA on Facebook
Their function is to collect any oil slick and prevent potential spread beyond Singapore’s port waters.
Oil-absorbent booms have also been placed at Sentosa, Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, West Coast Park and East Coast Park.
Siloso Beach in Sentosa. Source: Sentosa Development Corporation via Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore – MPA on Facebook
The aim is to protect the beaches and biodiversity-sensitive coastlines in these areas.
Oil-absorbent booms have also been deployed at Sentosa Cove, with the lock gates of the estate closed.
Sentosa Cove. Source: Sentosa Development Corporation via Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore – MPA on Facebook
Deflective booms will also be progressively deployed across the key areas of Sentosa, including its three beaches.
Amid the threat from the oil spill, Sentosa’s three beaches — Tanjong, Palawan, and Siloso — remain open for land-based and water activities.
In a Facebook post, the National Parks Board said the public areas at Labrador Nature Reserve and West Coast Park also remain open.
After a previous oil spill in June, large stretches of beaches in Sentosa, East Coast Park and the southern islands were closed for weeks.
Even after they opened, swimming and other primary contact water activities were not advised at a number of beaches, with all public beaches affected fully reopening only in late September.
Another agency activiated due to the oil spill was national water agency PUB, which is closely monitoring the seawater intake at its desalination plants.
So far, no oil has been detected near the Jurong Island Desalination Plant and Marina East Desalination Plant, which are nearest to the oil leakage.
The plants’ operations are continuing as normal, with seawater quality readings also normal.
However, PUB has also deployed oil containment booms across the Marina Barrage as a precaution.
Source: Grace Fu on Facebook
JTC Corporation has advised companies on Jurong Island and those facing the waterfront in the western region to be alert. They should take precautionary measures as necessary, it said.
As for the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), it has advised fish farmers to continue being vigilant and take precautionary measures as necessary.
To date, no fish farms have reported to have been affected by the leak.
Also read: Oil spill in waters off Pulau Bukom caused by Shell pipeline leak, containment measures activated
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Featured image adapted from Shell via Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore – MPA on Facebook.
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