Dutch Ship Hits Oil Pipeline and Causes Spill

Dutch-registered dredger, Seaway (12962 gross tons) crashed into an oil pipeline at a berth near Singapore, on Pulau Bukom on May 6. There was no other vessel alongside the berth at the time of incident and no report of any injuries. Shell reported that there was substantial damage to its Berth No. 8, and some oil leaked into the sea from the berth pipeline, which was immediately cleaned up by anti-pollution craft deployed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Shell. There has been no further report of any oil pollution. According to initial reports from the master of Seaway, the dredger was proceeding to the eastern sector of the port when it encountered engine failure while turning into Jong Fairway from Sinki Fairway. The dredger dropped its starboard anchor and could not avoid contacting Bukom Berth No. 8. The dredger sustained minor damage to its bow. MPA patrol craft will continue to monitor the incident site for signs of oil pollution. Navigational traffic within our port waters remains unaffected. The MPA is investigating the incident.