The suspected leak could involve an oil processing unit at the Shell Energy and Chemical Parks on Bukom Island. - PHOTO: ST FILE
SINGAPORE (Bernama): Shell has shut down one of its oil processing units at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park on Singapore’s Pulau Bukom to facilitate an investigation into a suspected leak in the system.
"Shell estimated that a few tonnes of the refined oil products were leaked, together with the cooling water discharge,” according to a joint statement by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), National Environment Agency (NEA), National Parks Board (NParks), and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC).
The oil processing unit is used to produce refined oil products such as diesel. Water drawn from the sea is used as part of the process to cool the refined oil products in the unit.
Following the incident, Shell has deployed containment and absorbent booms and sprayed dispersants in the channel where the cooling water is being discharged.
The in-built oil skimmer system in the channel has also been activated. Containment and absorbent booms have been laid at the mouth of the channel to prevent any residual oil from spreading into the sea.
"No oil patches are currently observed in the vicinity of Pulau Bukom,” the statement said.
The MPA and Shell have also deployed boats to clean up light oil sheens observed off Pulau Bukom.
The relevant agencies are closely monitoring the situation and have deployed satellites and drones for surveillance.
As a precaution, oil absorbent booms will be laid at Sisters' Islands Marine Park and on the beaches of Sentosa.
The incident does not affect navigational traffic in the area or bunkering operations in the Port of Singapore.
"NEA is investigating the incident with MPA and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if any wrongdoing or lapse is discovered,” the statement added.
On Oct 28, another spill took place off Changi, when five tonnes of oil flowed into the sea during a bunkering operation between a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier and a bunker tanker.
Earlier in June, Singapore saw its worst oil spill in a decade after more than 400 tonnes of oil leaked into nearby waters when a dredging boat hit a stationary bunker vessel at Pasir Panjang Terminal.
Oil slicks spread to the waters near Labrador Nature Reserve, Sentosa, East Coast Park, the Southern Islands and Changi.
The massive clean-up efforts – which involved 800 cleaning personnel and 2,300 volunteers – officially wrapped up in September.
