Containership Grounds Near Singapore

The Singapore-registered container ship, MV APL Emerald (40,077 gross tons), reported that it ran aground at about 1.3km south of Horsburgh Lighthouse in the Singapore waters on June 12. The vessel left the Singapore port on June 11 and was bound for Chiwan, China. The shipmaster reported that one of the vessel's water ballast tanks and four fuel oil tanks were damaged as a result of the incident. The shipmaster estimated that about 150 metric tonnes of fuel oil had leaked into the sea. There was no report of any injury to the crew. The vessel is in stable condition. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has deployed four anti-pollution craft to clean up the oil spill. The vessel's local agent, Tanker Pacific Management, has also arranged for divers and two anti-pollution craft to assist. None of the spilled oil has reached mainland Singapore. Port operations and vessel traffic remain unaffected. The clean-up operation for the oil spill that resulted from the grounding of the container ship, MV APL Emerald, south of Horsburgh Lighthouse is in progress. An aerial investigation was conducted, and showed that there has been no further leakage of fuel oil from the vessel. Three oil patches, measuring about 300m by 100m were sighted near the vessel. Six anti-pollution craft are on site to clean up the oil spill. As a precautionary measure, oil booms will be laid around the vessel. Another eight craft will be deployed by the vessel's local agent to assist in the clean up. All port operations continue to function normally. Vessel traffic within the Singapore waters and the Singapore Strait remain unaffected. Navigational broadcasts have been issued to inform ships in the vicinity, of the incident and to keep clear. The MPA will be investigating the incident.