On Friday, April 4th, Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE) announced the cause of the recent oil spill at the Tanjung Langsat Port Terminal in Johor. Their investigation revealed that the spill occurred due to a leak in a pipeline that was in the process of transferring Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) to a bunker tanker, reports Manifold Times.
Investigation Ongoing
A recent oil spill incident at a terminal prompted a complaint to Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE) on April 3rd. The DOE’s director-general, Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, estimated that approximately 1.6 cubic meters of oil were spilled into the sea.
Meanwhile, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported that as of 4 pm on April 4th, no visible oil patches were observed off Pulau Ubin, and there were no new oil sightings at sea.
The MPA stated that the cleanup of beaches at Changi and Pasir Ris is ongoing, with the majority of the work expected to be completed within the next few days. The affected beach areas remain cordoned off to facilitate these cleanup operations.
Oil sheen has also been observed at several fish farms located along the East Johor Strait. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is collaborating closely with the affected farms on mitigation strategies, with support from the MPA. The SFA is also assisting other farms in implementing preventative measures, such as providing absorbent pads. As a precautionary step, the SFA is conducting tests on seafood from farms in the East Johor Strait and on imported seafood.
Singapore’s National Parks Board (NParks), in conjunction with research partners, conducted visual assessments of biodiversity-sensitive areas near the oil patches on the morning of April 4th, and post-impact surveys are currently underway. Initial findings indicate no observable impact on wildlife at Chek Jawa Wetlands, Changi Beach Park, and Pasir Ris Park.
Preventative measures have been implemented, including the deployment of booms at coastal drains as well as at key locations like Chek Jawa and around fish farms in the East Johor Strait.
As a precautionary measure, Singapore’s national water agency, PUB, has also deployed containment booms across the tidal gates at Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs. These measures will remain in place pending further assessment by the relevant agencies.
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Source: Manifold Times
