Van Oord ‘regrets’ oil spill after dredger hits tanker

The incident happened in Singapore last weekend after a sudden loss in engine and steering control on Vox Maxima, according to a statement by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

The dredger then crashed into Marine Honour while she was at berth at the Pasir Panjang Terminal.

MPA patrol craft were immediately activated, the MPA statement says, and deployed to spray dispersants on the spill. The oil spill response contractor was also activated, they mobilised an oil skimmer and booms were laid around the vessels as an added precaution in case of further leaks.

Tidal currents moved the oil towards shorelines where the beaches were closed, and 1,600 metres of absorbent booms laid to prevent any further spread.

“Oil recovery efforts at sea are progressing,” says the MPA statement. “Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL), the largest international industry-funded cooperative providing oil spill response services, is supporting the clean-up efforts. OSRL will deploy two Current Buster systems, which are floating containment and recovery devices deployed from a vessel.

“It consists of a boom with a skirt that extends below the water surface to corral and concentrate the oil on the water surface. OSRL’s capabilities will be in addition to two skimmer craft deployed. The skimmer craft is a specialised vessel equipped with skimming equipment to skim and “lift” the oil off the water surface into storage tanks.”

“We recognise the impact of the subsequent spill of oil on the people of Singapore,” a Van Oord statement said. “Van Oord continues to cooperate with the MPA and we are offering all support in addressing the current situation under the MPA’s response plan.”

In a later statement on Thursday, the MPA said the terminal had been cleared of oil slicks and the berth near the allision site was being cleaned with high-pressure jets. estigations as to the cause of the allision are ongoing.