Yachts berthed at the Marina at Keppel Bay on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The marina opened on June 28 following a nearly two-week closure. - ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Marina at Keppel Bay in Singapore reopened on June 28, following a nearly two-week closure due to the recent oil spill at Pasir Panjang Terminal.
It marks the conclusion of the first phase of cleanup efforts within the marina, though “more detailed cleaning, as per other affected sites, is ongoing”, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Cleanup efforts are now transitioning to the next phase, focusing on areas less accessible such as rock bunds, and are expected to take up to three months to complete, MPA had said earlier.
This comes after contracted cleaners and the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation recommended that the containment boom across the entrance to the marina be removed on the afternoon of June 28.
“There was minimal floating black oil present in the marina, and there were adequate steps taken to minimise movement of floating oil,” MPA said, citing an advisory from the federation.
In a notice sent on June 28 and seen by The Straits Times, the dockmaster of Marina at Keppel Bay told vessel owners that “if the risk of oil migrating from other areas into the marina becomes likely, there will be a need to redeploy a boom across the marina entrance to minimise recontamination of the marina or vessel hulls”.
The circular added: “Vessel owners are advised to keep the movement of the vessels within the marina slow and be aware of their surroundings, as the cleaning of the oil on the sea walls and other infrastructure is still in progress.”
Cleaners at Marina at Keppel Bay seen on Saturday, June 29, 2924. - ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
The booms at Keppel Bay were first deployed on June 15, a day after the Netherlands-flagged dredging boat Vox Maxima hit stationary bunker vessel Marine Honour at Pasir Panjang Terminal after suffering a sudden loss of engine and steering control.
The incident caused 400 tonnes of low-sulphur oil from one of Marine Honour’s tanks to leak into the sea, affecting numerous coastlines at East Coast Park, Keppel Bay, the Southern Islands and Sentosa, among other areas.
More than 700 personnel from various government agencies and private organisations were deployed to help in cleanup efforts, and more than 3,400m of containment booms were laid.
MPA told ST on June 26 that further extensions of containment booms are not expected, as bulk oil removal from the sea and beaches is nearly complete.
Nevertheless, periodic replacements of booms will still be necessary until the cleanup is completed, due to wear and tear, and oil saturation.
Various boat operators told ST that they regarded Marina at Keppel Bay and One Degree 15 Marina Sentosa Cove, located along Singapore’s southern coast, as the two places in the area most significantly affected by oil slicks.
One Degree 15 Marina reopened for standard operations on June 25.
But businesses in the area said they are now grappling with other issues.
Concerns over water conditions and negative public perception of the incident have emerged as significant challenges, said Emerick Mitchell Donovan, sales and marketing manager at Hanako Luxuries, a private yacht charter company that operates at Marina at Keppel Bay.
Speaking to ST on June 28, he noted that his company’s primary concern lies not in its financial losses, but the disappointment faced by its clients.
“We’re losing them,” he said.
Between the two yachts owned by Hanako Luxuries, 16 charters have been cancelled or rescheduled thus far, resulting in a 60 per cent decline in revenue.
Donovan also noted that some charters have been postponed until November and inquiries are seeking dates as late as in September.
This leaves a significant gap in bookings for about two to three months, while the company will continue to have to pay operational costs.
“Something has to be done for us to pay our operating expenses... We will definitely be trying our best to claim our losses, but we have yet to find the right avenue to do so,” Donovan said. - The Straits Times/ANN
