Singapore’s waters faced a hiccup on 20 October 2024, thanks to an oil leak from a Shell pipeline. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced that the leak started around 5.30am from a land-based pipeline situated between Bukom Island and Bukom Kecil. However, reports of the incident didn’t reach the authority until after 1pm, making for a delayed response.
By 3pm, Shell confirmed that they had managed to stop the leak. While Shell indicated that most of the oil spilt into a holding area, some overflowed into the waterway. The total volume of oil released is still being assessed, but as of 6pm that day, no new oil sightings were reported. Calm your hearts; thankfully, no injuries have been reported.
Cleanup Operations Underway
Shell has called in the specialists—emergency response teams and marine craft— to tackle the spill. They set up containment booms to contain the leakage and deployed craft equipped with dispersants to help clean up the oil. In addition, MPA has readied its drones and satellite technology to keep tabs on the situation.
- Shell’s immediate actions include:
- Deploying containment booms
- Utilising dispersant-equipped crafts
- Monitoring oil spill through drones and satellites
Monitoring and Safety Measures
MPA has been proactive, alerting all relevant government agencies to keep an eye out for any oil sightings. As a navigational precaution, the Port Operations Control Centre issued advisories for vessels to steer clear of the affected area. Authorities chuckled at concerns about navigation safety—there seems to be no immediate risk.
As the cleanup operations continue, the National Parks Board has reported that there’s no oil observed at sensitive areas like Sisters’ Islands Marine Park and Labrador Nature Reserve. Rest easy; they’re on the case, monitoring the situation closely.
Interestingly, this isn’t Shell’s first brush with spills; just a few months earlier, a boat collision near Pasir Panjang created a mess, leaking around 400 tonnes of fuel into the sea. Lessons learned from past incidents are surely being applied as they tackle this latest leak.
Stay tuned for updates as Shell and MPA coordinate efforts to restore our waters to pristine condition. Here’s hoping for calm seas ahead!