Channel NewsAsia 2 Jan 15;
SINGAPORE: A Singapore-registered bulk carrier Sinar Kapuas and Libyan-registered oil tanker Alyarmouk collided about 11 nautical miles northeast of Pedra Branca, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Friday (Jan 2).
MPA said it received the report of the collision on Friday at 6am, with the Alyarmouk reporting that one of her cargo tanks sustained damage, resulting in some spillage of crude oil.
Two oil response companies have been activated to combat the spill. The companies deployed four craft equipped with dispersants, oil booms and skimmers to the site, according to MPA.
Alyarmouk was en route from Tanjung Pelapas, Malaysia to China, while Sinar Kapuas was on its way to Singapore from Hong Kong when the incident occurred. The two vessels are currently safely anchored and in stable condition, and there is no report of injury, the press release stated. Alyarmouk's ship managers estimate that 4,500 tonnes of crude oil was spilled from the tanker, said MPA.
MPA had deployed a helicopter to assess the situation once it was notified, and activated oil spill response resources. As part of the procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, MPA notified the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities, it said.
MPA added that it is working closely with the Indonesian authorities in line with the standard operating procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and has offered its assistance in containing the spill.
MPA has issued navigational broadcasts for ships to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site, though traffic in the port and the Strait of Singapore remains unaffected.
MPA is investigating the cause of the collision, it added.
This incident follows an incident also at Pedra Branca on Wednesday, when a Singapore-registered barge ran aground at the island due to "adverse sea conditions".
- CNA/kk/dl
Two vessels collide near Pedra Branca, resulting in some oil spillage
AsiaOne 2 Jan 15;
SINGAPORE: A Libyan-registered oil tanker Alyarmouk collided with Singapore-registered bulk carrier Sinar Kapuas on Friday morning near Pedra Branca, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in a statement.
The incident occurred at 6am about 11 nautical miles north-east of Pedra Branca.
One of the cargo tanks of Alyarmouk sustained damage, resulting in some spillage of crude oil.
MPA said they have deployed a helicopter to assess the situation. Two oil spill response companies were subsequently activated to deploy four craft to combat the spill.
The ship managers of Alyarmouk estimated about 4,500 tonnes of Madura crude oil was spilled from the tanker.
Patches of oil may affect the northern parts of the island of Bintan because of weather conditions and tidal currents, said MPA in its second statement.
Malaysian and Indonesian authorities have also been notified. This is part of standard operating procedures for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
Said MPA: "The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is also working closely with the Indonesian authorities in line with the standard operating procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and has offered its assistance in the containment operations."
The two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored and in stable condition.
MPA has issued navigational broadcasts for ships to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site.
No report of injury has been reported, and traffic in the port and the Strait of Singapore remains unaffected.
MPA said it is investigating the cause of the collision.
Libyan Tanker Spills Crude After Collision Near Singapore
Naomi Christie Bloomberg News 2 Jan 15;
A Libyan crude tanker spilled some of its cargo off Singapore after colliding with another ship, adding to the North African country’s challenges as it contends with escalating violence and a collapsing domestic oil industry.
The Alyarmouk, owned and registered in Libya, collided with the Sinar Kapuas, a dry-bulk ship, in waters northeast of Pedra Branca island, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said on its website today. One of the Alyarmouk’s tanks was damaged in the incident, resulting in the leak, it said.
Worsening violence already halted two of Libya’s three largest ports last month and meant the country with Africa’s biggest reserves pumped 450,000 barrels a day, less than one third of its peak, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Output may deteriorate further this month after Islamist militias set fire six storage tanks at the port of Es Sider, the biggest export terminal. Those blazes have now been extinguished, Libya’s National Oil Corp. said today.
Alyarmouk is owned by Libya’s General National Maritime Transport Co., the state-owned company’s website shows. A person who answered the phone at the company’s offices in Tripoli today said nobody was available to comment. He declined to give his name. One e-mail and a text message weren’t immediately returned. Today is a non-working day in Libya.
About 4,500 metric tons of crude were spilled, according to the port authority. Two oil-response companies are using four craft equipped with dispersants, oil booms and skimmers at the site of the spill that may affect northern parts the Indonesian island of Bintan, it said.
No injuries have been reported and maritime traffic hasn’t been affected, the port authority said. Both vessels are anchored and in a stable condition.
Alyarmouk was en route from Tanjung Pelapas, Malaysia to China, while Sinar Kapuas was destined for Singapore from Hong Kong, according to the port authority.
The tanker was at the Sudanese port of Bashayer on Dec. 1 before sailing to Singapore, according to ship-tracking data from IHS Maritime, a Coulsdon, England-based research company. It can haul more than 100,000 metric tons of crude.
Collision between Oil Tanker Alyarmouk and Bulk Carrier Sinar Kapuas north-east of Pedra Branca
MPA News Release 2 Jan 15;
On 2 January 2015, at about 0600hrs (Singapore Time), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) received a report that a Libyan-registered oil tanker, "Alyarmouk" had collided with a Singapore-registered bulk carrier, "Sinar Kapuas" in Singapore waters about 11 nautical miles north-east of Pedra Branca.
Alyarmouk reported that one of her cargo tanks sustained damage, resulting in spillage of crude oil. Upon notification, MPA deployed a helicopter to assess the situation. Oil spill response resources have also been activated. As part of standard operating procedures for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, MPA has notified the Malaysian and Indonesian Authorities.
The two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored and in stable condition. MPA has issued navigational broadcasts for ships to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site. There is no report of injury, and traffic in the port and the Strait of Singapore remains unaffected.
MPA is investigating the cause of the collision.
Collision between Oil Tanker Alyarmouk and Bulk Carrier Sinar Kapuas north-east of Pedra Branca - Update 1
MPA News Release 2 Jan 15;
Following the collision between Libyan-registered oil tanker, "Alyarmouk" and Singapore-registered bulk carrier, "Sinar Kapuas" reported at about 0600hrs (Singapore Time) on 2 January 2015, two oil spill response companies have been activated to combat the resultant oil spill. The companies have since deployed four craft equipped with dispersants, oil booms and skimmers to the site.
Alyarmouk was en route from Tanjung Pelapas, Malaysia to China, and Sinar Kapuas from Hong Kong to Singapore, when the incident occurred. The ship managers of Alyarmouk V. Ships UK Ltd estimate that 4,500 tonnes of Madura crude oil was spilled from the tanker. Taking into account the weather and tidal currents, patches of oil may affect the northern parts of the island of Bintan.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is also working closely with the Indonesian authorities in line with the standard operating procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and has offered its assistance in the containment operations.
Singapore-registered barge grounded at Pedra Branca
Channel NewsAsia 31 Dec 14;
SINGAPORE: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday (Dec 30) said it is currently salvaging a Singapore-registered barge POE Giant 12, which had ran aground at Pedra Branca due to "adverse sea conditions".
The incident was flagged on Dec 30 at about 6.45am, and the MPA said there have been no reports of oil pollution or injury.
The POE Giant 12 was carrying two bulk loader cranes and left Singapore for Kuantan, Malaysia, on Dec 25. Preliminary investigations indicate that it had turned back towards Singapore after encountering inclement weather, and ran aground at Pedra Branca subsequently, according to the press release.
Salvage operations by the MPA are currently underway in prevailing high sea conditions. The agency is also conducting further investigations into the incident, according to the press release.
- CNA/kk
MPA salvaging grounded barge at Pedra Branca
MPA News Release 31 Dec 14;
On 30 December 2014 at about 0645hrs, a barge POE Giant 12, flagged with the Singapore Registry, ran aground at Pedra Branca. There have been no reports of oil pollution or injury.
The barge, which was carrying two bulk loader cranes, had left Singapore for Kuantan, Malaysia, on 25 December 2014. Preliminary investigations indicate that it had turned back towards Singapore after encountering inclement weather, and subsequently ran aground at Pedra Branca due to the adverse sea conditions.
Salvage operations by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) are currently underway in prevailing heavy sea conditions. MPA is also conducting further investigations into the incident.
Ship Collision Spills Tonnes of Oil in Singapore Strait
News Editor Environment News Wire 3 Jan 15;
SINGAPORE, January 3, 2015 (ENS) – A collision Friday between an oil tanker and a bulk carrier at the eastern end of the Strait of Singapore, where it meets the South China Sea, has spilled thousands of tons of crude oil, threatening white sand beaches and endangered sea turtles in Indonesia.
Early on the morning of January 2, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore received a report that a Libyan-registered oil tanker Alyarmouk had collided with a Singapore-registered bulk carrier Sinar Kapuas in Singapore waters.
The collision occurred about 11 nautical miles northeast of Pedra Branca, an outlying island that is the easternmost point of Singapore.
The Alyarmouk reported that one of her cargo tanks sustained damage. As a result 4,500 metric tonnes (approx. 32,400 barrels) of crude oil were spilled into the Strait of Singapore, according to an estimate by the Alyarmouk’s ship managers, V. Ships UK Ltd.
The Maritime and Port Authority deployed a helicopter to assess the situation.
Two oil spill response companies have been activated to control the spill. The companies have deployed four craft equipped with dispersants, oil booms and skimmers to the site.
The Alyarmouk was en route from Tanjung Pelapas, Malaysia to China, and the Sinar Kapuas was transiting from Hong Kong to Singapore, when the incident occurred, says the MPA.
As part of standard operating procedures for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the Maritime and Port Authority has notified the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities.
The MPA is also working closely with the Indonesian authorities in line with the standard operating procedure for joint oil spill combat in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and has offered its assistance in the containment operations.
The two vessels involved in the collision are currently safely anchored and in stable condition, says the MPA, which has issued navigational broadcasts for ships to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site.
There is no report of injury, and traffic in the port and in the Strait of Singapore remains unaffected. The Maritime and Port Authority is investigating the cause of the collision.
The site of the spill is just 18.6 nautical miles north of Bintan, Indonesia, famous for its beautiful white sand beaches and resorts and artisan fishing and boat-building communities.
Oil spill cleanup workers are battling time and tides to keep the oil from threatening the beaches of Bintan and the sea turtles that swim in Bintan waters.
Six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles frequent Indonesian waters; all species are classed as endangered. On the Bintan Resort beaches hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, and green turtles, Chelonia mydas, have been recorded.
A turtle conservation initiative was started at Bintan Resorts in 2004. Villagers as well as visitors participate in the release of hatchlings during the March – September season.
The Research and Development Department and Environmental & Health Division of Bintan Resort conduct patrols to safeguard sea turtle nests, and they are confident that turtle nests will be protected on Bintan and conserved by local villages.
