SINGAPORE – An oil spill exercise took place in the waters off Pasir Panjang Terminal on Oct 11, nearly four months after an oil spill at the port polluted beaches around Singapore and triggered extensive clean-up operations.
More than 100 officials from 18 government agencies and companies took part in the exercise organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Emergency responses were activated by terminal operators on Jurong Island and Pulau Bukom, which sent their boats, equipped with oil-dispersal spray systems, out to sea to spray dispersants – chemicals that break up oil. MPA also had several craft that sprayed dispersants patrolling the area.
Such exercises, which also involve discussions and people being assigned roles during an oil spill, have been held every two years since 1998.
The exercises are meant to test the coordination between the Government and the industry and their response to oil spills in Singapore, said MPA.
At the Oct 11 exercise, several industry operators also laid out floating barriers, known as protective booms, to control the spread of oil and facilitate clean-up operations.
Representatives from nature and community groups were invited to observe the exercise out at sea.