Clean-up of Singapore Oil Spill Progressing Faster than Anticipated Schedule.

Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has announced the reopening of Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong Beach for swimming and sea activities in August. Siloso Beach is the first to reopen after an extensive cleanup operation following an oil spill on June 14, 2024. The spill occurred when the Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima struck a Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour, releasing low-sulphur fuel oil into the sea.

Over 300 trained workers coordinated by SDC participated in the cleanup effort, leading to the early completion and reopening of Siloso Beach in just one and a half months instead of the anticipated three months. The cleanup process involved deploying containment booms to minimize oil spread, using oil skimmer machines to remove oil from the water surface, and employing absorbent booms at the shoreline to soak up remnant oil slicks.

Specialized teams meticulously removed contaminated sand while employing high-pressure jetting techniques for hard-to-reach areas. Subsurface oil surveys were conducted to address hidden pockets of oil, and seabed surveys were carried out to identify and remove oil deposits. Palawan Beach and Tanjong Beach are currently in the final cleanup phase, with operations expected to be completed by mid-August.

Source .