The Coast Guard has resolved the oil spill mystery at the Port of San Juan, identifying a corroded steel pipe as the source. Cleanup efforts included plugging the leak and deploying containment booms. Lab results linked the oil to previous spills, prompting ongoing monitoring and an interagency strategy to prevent future incidents.
Six days after an oil spill began in the Mississippi Delta, the Coast Guard has taken control, activating the Oil Pollution Liability Trust Fund. The uncontrolled well continues to emit an orange-brown mist. Contractors have collected 33,000 gallons of oily water, while a safety zone remains in effect around the site.
On April 25, 2025, the container vessel KMTC Surabaya collided with the bulk carrier Glengyle on the Saigon–Vung Tau waterway in Vietnam, resulting in significant damage and an oil spill into the Long Tau River. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and shipping operations remained unaffected.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) organized a table-top exercise with Indonesia and Malaysia to improve regional coordination for oil spills. Over 20 representatives from MPA, Indonesia, Malaysia, and ITOPF participated to enhance response capabilities in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. This initiative aims to foster collaboration and communication during oil spill incidents.
Russia has declared a state of emergency in Crimea after an oil spill in the Black Sea last month. Workers are clearing contaminated sand and soil, with over 86,000 metric tons removed. The spill involved heavy fuel oil, with cleanup efforts extending to the Kuban region. Environmental groups report deaths of marine animals.
Volunteers cleaning up a major oil spill along Russia’s Black Sea coast are pleading for urgent federal aid. The spill, caused by two tankers hit by a storm, has devastated beaches and wildlife in Anapa. President Putin is urged to send professionals for clean-up and veterinary care. The situation is described as an ecological disaster.
Volunteers faced a challenging task clearing sticky oil from the Black Sea after two tankers were damaged in a storm. President Putin called it an ecological disaster, with one ship splitting in half and a crew member dying. Efforts to clean up the spill continue, with thousands working to rescue wildlife and remove contaminated material.
Oil spillage along the Russian Black Sea coast has caused significant environmental damage. Two tankers were damaged in a storm, with one splitting in half and the other running aground. Concerns about a potential environmental disaster have been raised as fuel oil leakage into the sea has been confirmed.
A Russian oil tanker split apart during a storm in the Kerch Strait, spilling oil. One person died, and another ship was damaged. Ukraine accused Russia of controlling the strait. Putin ordered a rescue operation to minimize the impact. Specialists are assessing the damage, and the cause of the incident is unclear.
The VSG Glory, a coastal freighter, ran aground off El Quseir, Egypt, spilling fuel oil. The vessel, carrying 70 tonnes of fuel, had been drifting in the Red Sea for over a month before grounding on a reef near a tourist destination. Responders contained the spill, but concerns about environmental risks and vessel safety remain.
Three years after the MV Wakashio spilled 1000 tons of VLSFO off Mauritius, Curtin University research confirmed oil remnants in a sensitive mangrove forest. Chemical analysis matched the spilled oil’s fingerprint, highlighting the unknown risks to the ecosystem. Modeling suggested different behavior compared to traditional fuels, posing challenges for assessing impacts on organisms.
An oil spill occurred off Changi in Singapore during a bunkering operation involving the bulk carrier Ines Corrado. Approximately 5 tonnes of oil overflowed, prompting a quick response from Singapore MPA vessels. Dispersants were used to contain the spill, and a Current Buster was deployed to recover any visible oil.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) recently conducted the 16th Joint Oil Spill Exercise (JOSE) to test new oil spill response technologies. Over 100 personnel from 18 agencies and companies participated in the exercise, showcasing new tools like the KOBOT oil recovery robot and a laser oil-stain cleaning device.
In a high-profile environmental crimes case at sea, two companies involved in illegal discharge from the Panama-registered tanker P/S Dream were convicted in federal court in New Orleans. Captain Abdurrahman Korkmaz was sentenced to eight months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. The crew’s actions highlight the importance of enforcing maritime laws.
Efren Dominico, a fisherman in the Bay of Manila, was devastated when an oil tanker sank, cutting him off from his livelihood. The largest oil spill in the country since 2006 polluted the bay, leading to fishing bans and financial struggles for thousands in the fishing sector. Despite government efforts, fishermen like Dominico faced uncertainty and frustration over their future.
