A Netherlands-flagged dredger, Vox Maxima, crashed into a Singaporean fuel supply ship, Marine Honour, on 14 June, causing an oil spill at the Pasir Panjang shipping terminal.  

The dredger reported a sudden engine and steering control loss before colliding with the bunker vessel.  

This resulted in an oil cargo tank rupture and the release of low-sulphur fuel oil into the sea.  

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) mobilised craft to immediately apply dispersants to the spill, according to local media reports.  

“Use of dispersants can help to break down the surface oil into droplets to enhance biodegradation. For treated oil with dispersants, these may be suspended in the water and be carried by tidal currents to coastlines,” the authorities said.  

The authorities deployed 18 response vessels from the MPA, PSA, Singapore Salvage Engineers, Tian San Shipping and T&T Salvage to conduct containment and clean-up operations at sea. Around 1,500m of container booms have been used and more will be laid in the next few days to prevent further oil spread to the shore.  

They said this would also enable the recovery of the trapped oil from the affected shorelines and lagoons to prevent it from returning to the sea. 

According to the statement, due to tidal currents, parts of the oil spill have washed up along the southern shorelines including Sentosa, Labrador Nature Reserve, Southern Islands, Marina South Pier and East Coast Park. 

As of 16 June at 1.30pm local time, the government said there were no signs of an oil slick within Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, but there was an oil sheen seen in the surrounding waters. 

"There is no impact on maritime traffic. Berthing operations at Pasir Panjang Terminal remain unaffected," the authority said. 

The MPA is cooperating with British Marine, the insurer of the stationary tanker Marine Honour, to establish a point of contact for third-party claims and assist those affected.