On Friday, the Dutch-flagged dredger Vox Maxima hit the Singaporean fuel supply ship Marine Honor. It damaged the cargo tank of the Marine Honor, which leaked oil into the ocean.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said in an announcement late on Saturday that the ship’s oil leak had been contained and the oil leaking from the damaged tanker had been contained with dispersants.
Parts of the beach in the general public park and nature reserve have been closed to facilitate cleansing. Sentosa Beach will remain open to the general public, but sea activities and swimming will likely be prohibited.
On Sunday, staff in orange suits were seen collecting sand while cleansing an empty beach in Sentosa. Black water flowed onto the oil-stained shore.
Authorities sent 18 vessels to wash up and laid nearly 1,500 meters (500 feet) of container booms, temporary floating barriers that stop the oil spill.
“More will be laid over the next few days to prevent further spread of oil onshore and to facilitate the recovery of trapped oil from affected shorelines and lagoons to prevent it from returning to the sea,” an announcement from the Maritime and Port Authority said.
Ecologists and biologists are monitoring the complete extent of harm to the ocean and wildlife.
Local conservation group Marine Stewards reportedly found there have been photos of dead fish, otters and kingfishers covered in oil slick.
The group’s founder, Sue Ye, told local newspaper The Straits Times that oil spills choke and suffocate fish, birds and marine animals which have to return to the surface for air, corresponding to turtles and dolphins.
