About 5 tonnes of oil released into waters off Changi due to another oil spill

An oil spill occurred off Changi during a bunkering operation between a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier, the Ines Corrado, and a licensed bunker tanker on Oct. 28, 2024, at about 5:40pm.

MPA also confirmed on Oct. 29 that bunkering operations had stopped.

Bunkering refers to the process of supplying fuel to ships for their own use.

Singapore is one of the largest and most important bunkering ports in the world.

Bunkering operations ceased immediately after the oil spill incident, according to a press release by the Marine and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

MPA clarified that an estimated 5 tonnes of oil had overflowed and that MPA patrol craft had sprayed dispersants.

MPA added that as of 8am on Oct. 29, no oil had been sighted at sea or ashore in the vicinity of the incident.

As a precautionary measure, a current buster has been deployed off Changi to recover oil on water if sighted.

The current buster is an oil recovery and containment system. 

Malaysian authorities have also been alerted to keep a lookout for oil sightings.

MPA will be investigating the incident.

Previous incidents

On Oct. 20, a leak from an oil pipeline belonging to major energy company Shell occurred.

The waters off Bukom Island were affected.

Oil spill containment measures were activated.

Shell said about 30 to 40 metric tonnes oil and water mixture had leaked into the sea.

On Jun. 14, Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima hit Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour at Pasir Panjang Terminal.

One of Marine Honour’s oil cargo tanks was ruptured, releasing about 400 tonnes of low-sulphur fuel into the sea.

Oil washed up along several beaches including at Sentosa Island and East Coast Park, as well as the shoreline at Labrador Nature Reserve.

Top photo from MPA.