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Full media articles follows
'Not as useful' to compare government's response times for 3 recent oil spills, says Murali Pillai
Oil company Shell is also being investigated for allegedly taking more than 7 hours to notify the authorities about a leak from its land-based pipeline at Bukom on Oct 20.
Koh Wan Ting Channel NewsAsia 11 Nov 2024
SINGAPORE: It is not useful to compare the three most recent oil spill incidents in Singapore, as they are of very different natures, Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai said on Monday (Nov 11).
Mr Murali was responding to questions by Members of Parliament about oil spill and leak incidents on Jun 14, Oct 20 and Oct 28 this year.
At least eight MPs from both sides of the House filed questions, asking about the underlying causes of the incidents, response times, environmental impact, and mitigation measures against re-occurrences.
In response, Mr Murali, who is also Minister of State for Law, stressed that the nature and scale of each incident was different, with the cause of each incident unrelated to the others.
The Jun 14 incident, which led to beaches around Singapore being closed, was due to an allision between a dredger - Vox Maxima - and a bunker tanker - Marine Honour - at Pasir Panjang Terminal, resulting in a discharge of around 400 tonnes of oil into the sea. Allision refers to when a moving vessel hits a stationary object.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has completed its investigations and assessed that key crew members of Netherlands-flagged Vox Maxima failed to discharge their duties properly, said Mr Murali.
The four men were charged in the State Courts on Nov 6 under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
The Oct 20 incident was a result of a leak in Shell’s land-based pipeline at Bukom, leading to about 30 to 40 tonnes of slop - a mixture of oil and water - leaking into the sea.
The Oct 28 incident was due to an overflow of bunker fuel in the receiving vessel during a bunkering operation off Changi. As a result, about 5 tonnes of oil overflowed into the sea, which Mr Murali noted was "a much smaller amount" compared to the Jun 14 incident.
"Given the very different natures, scales and locations of the three incidents, the time and resources required to monitor, clean up and mitigate the spread of oil from these three incidents were different.
"It is therefore not as useful to compare the response times for these incidents," said Mr Murali.
Once it became aware of the incident, MPA coordinated with other agencies such as the National Environment Agency (NEA), National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore's national water agency PUB to "activate resources and capabilities to respond".
For the incidents in October, the agencies activated an emergency operations team which implemented precautionary measures to monitor and prevent the further spread of oil.
These include the activation of craft to spray dispersants, and the installation of oil absorbent booms to protect beaches and biodiversity sensitive areas.
INVESTIGATIONS INTO OCT 20 INCIDENT
For the oil leak on Oct 20, Shell activated resources to clean up the leaked slop in the channel between Pulau Bukom and Pulau Bukom Kechil, with operations completed nine days later, Mr Murali said.
Agencies have stood down seaward oil response assets and the booms that were earlier deployed as no other oil sightings at sea and ashore have arisen from these incidents, he added.
Responding to MP Dennis Tan's (WP-Hougang) query on the timeline for the discovery of the oil leak, Mr Murali said that the leak in Shell's pipeline reportedly occurred at around 5.30am on Oct 20.
Shell alerted MPA at around 1pm. MPA then alerted NEA shortly after.
Mr Murali said that NEA and MPA are investigating the incident, including the time taken before Shell notified the agencies.
"According to the rules, Shell is supposed to inform MPA and NEA as soon as possible when they detected the leak. If there are lapses by Shell, the agencies will take the necessary enforcement actions against the company," he added.
Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor also addressed briefly NEA's investigation into the matter in response to a separate question filed by NCMP Hazel Poa (PSP).
Ms Poa asked if the government would be checking the structural integrity of all oil pipelines in Singapore’s waters.
Dr Khor replied that NEA was reviewing the measures that Shell has in place at its facility.
"As an interim measure, NEA has directed Shell to carry out a comprehensive pipeline integrity check across their Bukom plant," she said.
Addressing questions about alert and monitoring systems in place, Mr Murali said involved parties are required under the law to notify the authorities immediately when there is a discharge of oil into water or on land.
MPA has a surveillance system to identify and monitor oil sightings, including regular patrols by MPA patrol craft, he said. The agency also informs agencies to be on standby to deploy resources to prevent further pollution or facilitate clean-up operations for seaward spills.
In a supplementary question, Mr Tan asked what regular checks owners of oil pipelines had to conduct to ensure the integrity of all pipelines.
"How does MPA ensure that these inspections and checks are carried out so that repairs and maintenance can be carried out in advance of (oil leakages)?" asked Mr Tan. He also asked if there were plans to improve response times from MPA's oil spill response contractor.
Mr Murali clarified that NEA would be responsible for checks of land-based pipelines, as was the case for the Shell incident.
He added that the relevant agencies will work with industry players to minimise the risk of oil spills, including a contingency plan which is rehearsed and refined regularly. The authorities have an inter-agency exercise for oil spills every two years.
"It is important for us to recognise that every oil spill incident is different as there are a variety of external factors, such as tidal and current conditions, the location of the incident and the time of the incident. Some tailoring of our response to each incident will be needed," he said.
NO IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OBSERVED
To queries on the environmental impact of the incidents, Mr Murali said that NParks has not observed any immediate impact on marine and coastal ecosystems and wildlife. The Singapore Food Agency also has not observed any immediate impact on fisheries.
"No oil from the October incidents has landed on any of our recreational beaches. PUB is also monitoring the seawater intakes at its desalination plants, and readings remain normal," said Mr Murali.
In a supplementary question, MP Cheryl Chan (PAP-East Coast) asked if an environmental impact study will be conducted for every oil spill, and how long each monitoring period will be.
Mr Murali replied: "After every oil spill, every incident, there will be a study to see what are the lessons that can be drawn. And then we look to see how we can improve our plans that (are) in place as well, and also engage the respective stakeholders."
Bukom oil leak: Authorities investigating why it took 7½ hours for Shell to raise alert
Esther Loi Straits Times 11 Nov 2024.
SINGAPORE – There was a 7½-hour gap between the discovery of an oil leak and the authorities being alerted to the incident, and this delay is under investigation, said Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai in Parliament on Nov 11.
About 30 to 40 tonnes of oil and water leaked into the waters between Bukom Island and Bukom Kecil from a land-based pipeline, starting from around 5.30am on Oct 20. British petrochemical company Shell notified the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) at about 1pm on the same day. Clean-up operations were completed on Oct 29.
Responding to questions on recent oil spills in Singapore’s waters, Mr Murali added that according to standard protocol, Shell was supposed to inform MPA and the National Environment Agency (NEA) as soon as possible when it detected the leak.
“If there are lapses by Shell, the agencies will take the necessary enforcement actions against the company,” he said.
In an answer to frequently asked questions on the oil spill, which was posted on its website, Shell said the oil leak was initially contained on land, but it informed MPA “as soon as practicable” when it detected oil leaking into the sea.
Shell told The Straits Times on Nov 11 that it will continue to cooperate and work closely with the authorities on the matter. “We are fully committed to maintaining the rigorous safety standards and compliance with regulatory requirements,” its spokesperson added.
There were two other oil spill incidents in Singapore’s waters in the last five months. One was caused by an allision between a dredging boat and a bunker tanker at Pasir Panjang Terminal. It led to the discharge of about 400 tonnes of oil on June 14.
A few days after the Shell oil leak, another oil spill took place off Changi on Oct 28. Five tonnes of oil flowed into the sea during a bunkering operation between a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier and a bunker tanker.
Mr Murali was responding to two questions on the impact of the recent oil spills on the marine ecosystem, the need for a review of oil sighting and alerting practices, the division of costs and responsibilities across government agencies, and mitigation measures to prevent and handle future oil spills.
On the environmental impact, he said the authorities have not observed any immediate impact on Singapore’s marine and coastal ecosystems and wildlife, as well as fisheries. Mr Murali said oil from the two incidents in October did not affect recreational beaches.
National water agency PUB is also monitoring seawater intake at its desalination plants and readings remain normal, he added.
Mr Murali also noted that there have been no other oil sightings at sea and on shore arising from these incidents.
Responding to another question on the structural integrity of oil pipelines, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor said NEA is reviewing the maintenance and inspection measures at Shell’s facility, and will evaluate if additional measures are needed to further minimise the risk of oil leaks.
Dr Khor added that in the meantime, NEA has directed Shell to complete a comprehensive pipeline integrity check at its Bukom plant.
Asked by Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa about the frequency of inspections at industrial facilities, Dr Khor said industrial facilities themselves are responsible for conducting regular maintenance and checks on equipment, in addition to NEA’s regular checks on facilities with oil pipelines throughout the year.
Responding to a question from Mr Dennis Tan (Hougang) on how MPA ensures that these checks are being carried out, Mr Murali said MPA will work with industry players and relevant government agencies to ensure minimal risks from oil spills caused by both land-based facilities and incidents in the water.
Noting that there is a system in place to detect and respond to oil spills, Mr Murali said responsible parties are required to immediately inform MPA and NEA.
Following that, MPA has a surveillance system that can identify and monitor oil sightings, including regular patrols by MPA patrol craft, industry partners and aerial drone flights. At the same time, MPA also notifies agencies to be on standby to deploy resources for clean-up operations and the prevention of further pollution.
Additionally, oil handling facilities in Singapore need to have containment booms, oil skimmers and dispersants on hand, as they may be called upon to use these resources to facilitate oil spill clean-up operations.
Asked by Mr Tan whether response times to oil spills can be improved, Mr Murali said it is important to note that every oil spill incident is different, given external factors such as tidal and current conditions, location and time of the incident, so multi-agency contingency plans would need to be tailored to each incident.
He added that the authorities are carefully assessing proposals including the preparation of more equipment, moving equipment closer to the port, and mandating that bunker vessels carry oil spill response equipment. These are being assessed to determine if they affect the navigational safety, efficiency and competitiveness of Singapore’s port.
It may not be practicable to have multiple sets of equipments located close to any potential incident site along the entire coastline, said Mr Murali.
He also noted that it may not be practical or feasible for all vessels to carry their own booms, as these may be costly.
Giving an update on the June 14 oil spill incident, Mr Murali said agencies are consolidating their compensation claims under the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds.
Investigations have also been completed, with four crewmen on the Netherlands-flagged dredger having been charged with failing to perform their duties properly.
But investigations into the incidents on Oct 20 and 28 are still ongoing, so the authorities are unable to provide more details, he added.
On the lessons learnt from past incidents, Mr Murali said the industry’s contingency plans take learning points from regular oil spill and chemical exercises, as well as experiences from these incidents, which have helped to strengthen communication and coordination across various agencies and with the public.
He added that random spot checks are being done to ensure that bunkering players follow standard procedures, and complete mandatory safety training as well as shipboard drills.
Noting that it is important for every company or individual involved to play their part and follow requirements, Mr Murali said: “We will hold parties accountable for any lapses or wrongdoing which may surface during the investigations.”
Related blog posts
Koh Wan Ting Channel NewsAsia 11 Nov 2024
SINGAPORE: It is not useful to compare the three most recent oil spill incidents in Singapore, as they are of very different natures, Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai said on Monday (Nov 11).
Mr Murali was responding to questions by Members of Parliament about oil spill and leak incidents on Jun 14, Oct 20 and Oct 28 this year.
At least eight MPs from both sides of the House filed questions, asking about the underlying causes of the incidents, response times, environmental impact, and mitigation measures against re-occurrences.
In response, Mr Murali, who is also Minister of State for Law, stressed that the nature and scale of each incident was different, with the cause of each incident unrelated to the others.
The Jun 14 incident, which led to beaches around Singapore being closed, was due to an allision between a dredger - Vox Maxima - and a bunker tanker - Marine Honour - at Pasir Panjang Terminal, resulting in a discharge of around 400 tonnes of oil into the sea. Allision refers to when a moving vessel hits a stationary object.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has completed its investigations and assessed that key crew members of Netherlands-flagged Vox Maxima failed to discharge their duties properly, said Mr Murali.
The four men were charged in the State Courts on Nov 6 under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
The Oct 20 incident was a result of a leak in Shell’s land-based pipeline at Bukom, leading to about 30 to 40 tonnes of slop - a mixture of oil and water - leaking into the sea.
The Oct 28 incident was due to an overflow of bunker fuel in the receiving vessel during a bunkering operation off Changi. As a result, about 5 tonnes of oil overflowed into the sea, which Mr Murali noted was "a much smaller amount" compared to the Jun 14 incident.
"Given the very different natures, scales and locations of the three incidents, the time and resources required to monitor, clean up and mitigate the spread of oil from these three incidents were different.
"It is therefore not as useful to compare the response times for these incidents," said Mr Murali.
Once it became aware of the incident, MPA coordinated with other agencies such as the National Environment Agency (NEA), National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore's national water agency PUB to "activate resources and capabilities to respond".
For the incidents in October, the agencies activated an emergency operations team which implemented precautionary measures to monitor and prevent the further spread of oil.
These include the activation of craft to spray dispersants, and the installation of oil absorbent booms to protect beaches and biodiversity sensitive areas.
INVESTIGATIONS INTO OCT 20 INCIDENT
For the oil leak on Oct 20, Shell activated resources to clean up the leaked slop in the channel between Pulau Bukom and Pulau Bukom Kechil, with operations completed nine days later, Mr Murali said.
Agencies have stood down seaward oil response assets and the booms that were earlier deployed as no other oil sightings at sea and ashore have arisen from these incidents, he added.
Responding to MP Dennis Tan's (WP-Hougang) query on the timeline for the discovery of the oil leak, Mr Murali said that the leak in Shell's pipeline reportedly occurred at around 5.30am on Oct 20.
Shell alerted MPA at around 1pm. MPA then alerted NEA shortly after.
Mr Murali said that NEA and MPA are investigating the incident, including the time taken before Shell notified the agencies.
"According to the rules, Shell is supposed to inform MPA and NEA as soon as possible when they detected the leak. If there are lapses by Shell, the agencies will take the necessary enforcement actions against the company," he added.
Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor also addressed briefly NEA's investigation into the matter in response to a separate question filed by NCMP Hazel Poa (PSP).
Ms Poa asked if the government would be checking the structural integrity of all oil pipelines in Singapore’s waters.
Dr Khor replied that NEA was reviewing the measures that Shell has in place at its facility.
"As an interim measure, NEA has directed Shell to carry out a comprehensive pipeline integrity check across their Bukom plant," she said.
Addressing questions about alert and monitoring systems in place, Mr Murali said involved parties are required under the law to notify the authorities immediately when there is a discharge of oil into water or on land.
MPA has a surveillance system to identify and monitor oil sightings, including regular patrols by MPA patrol craft, he said. The agency also informs agencies to be on standby to deploy resources to prevent further pollution or facilitate clean-up operations for seaward spills.
In a supplementary question, Mr Tan asked what regular checks owners of oil pipelines had to conduct to ensure the integrity of all pipelines.
"How does MPA ensure that these inspections and checks are carried out so that repairs and maintenance can be carried out in advance of (oil leakages)?" asked Mr Tan. He also asked if there were plans to improve response times from MPA's oil spill response contractor.
Mr Murali clarified that NEA would be responsible for checks of land-based pipelines, as was the case for the Shell incident.
He added that the relevant agencies will work with industry players to minimise the risk of oil spills, including a contingency plan which is rehearsed and refined regularly. The authorities have an inter-agency exercise for oil spills every two years.
"It is important for us to recognise that every oil spill incident is different as there are a variety of external factors, such as tidal and current conditions, the location of the incident and the time of the incident. Some tailoring of our response to each incident will be needed," he said.
NO IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OBSERVED
To queries on the environmental impact of the incidents, Mr Murali said that NParks has not observed any immediate impact on marine and coastal ecosystems and wildlife. The Singapore Food Agency also has not observed any immediate impact on fisheries.
"No oil from the October incidents has landed on any of our recreational beaches. PUB is also monitoring the seawater intakes at its desalination plants, and readings remain normal," said Mr Murali.
In a supplementary question, MP Cheryl Chan (PAP-East Coast) asked if an environmental impact study will be conducted for every oil spill, and how long each monitoring period will be.
Mr Murali replied: "After every oil spill, every incident, there will be a study to see what are the lessons that can be drawn. And then we look to see how we can improve our plans that (are) in place as well, and also engage the respective stakeholders."
Bukom oil leak: Authorities investigating why it took 7½ hours for Shell to raise alert
Esther Loi Straits Times 11 Nov 2024.
SINGAPORE – There was a 7½-hour gap between the discovery of an oil leak and the authorities being alerted to the incident, and this delay is under investigation, said Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai in Parliament on Nov 11.
About 30 to 40 tonnes of oil and water leaked into the waters between Bukom Island and Bukom Kecil from a land-based pipeline, starting from around 5.30am on Oct 20. British petrochemical company Shell notified the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) at about 1pm on the same day. Clean-up operations were completed on Oct 29.
Responding to questions on recent oil spills in Singapore’s waters, Mr Murali added that according to standard protocol, Shell was supposed to inform MPA and the National Environment Agency (NEA) as soon as possible when it detected the leak.
“If there are lapses by Shell, the agencies will take the necessary enforcement actions against the company,” he said.
In an answer to frequently asked questions on the oil spill, which was posted on its website, Shell said the oil leak was initially contained on land, but it informed MPA “as soon as practicable” when it detected oil leaking into the sea.
Shell told The Straits Times on Nov 11 that it will continue to cooperate and work closely with the authorities on the matter. “We are fully committed to maintaining the rigorous safety standards and compliance with regulatory requirements,” its spokesperson added.
There were two other oil spill incidents in Singapore’s waters in the last five months. One was caused by an allision between a dredging boat and a bunker tanker at Pasir Panjang Terminal. It led to the discharge of about 400 tonnes of oil on June 14.
A few days after the Shell oil leak, another oil spill took place off Changi on Oct 28. Five tonnes of oil flowed into the sea during a bunkering operation between a Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier and a bunker tanker.
Mr Murali was responding to two questions on the impact of the recent oil spills on the marine ecosystem, the need for a review of oil sighting and alerting practices, the division of costs and responsibilities across government agencies, and mitigation measures to prevent and handle future oil spills.
On the environmental impact, he said the authorities have not observed any immediate impact on Singapore’s marine and coastal ecosystems and wildlife, as well as fisheries. Mr Murali said oil from the two incidents in October did not affect recreational beaches.
National water agency PUB is also monitoring seawater intake at its desalination plants and readings remain normal, he added.
Mr Murali also noted that there have been no other oil sightings at sea and on shore arising from these incidents.
Responding to another question on the structural integrity of oil pipelines, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor said NEA is reviewing the maintenance and inspection measures at Shell’s facility, and will evaluate if additional measures are needed to further minimise the risk of oil leaks.
Dr Khor added that in the meantime, NEA has directed Shell to complete a comprehensive pipeline integrity check at its Bukom plant.
Asked by Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa about the frequency of inspections at industrial facilities, Dr Khor said industrial facilities themselves are responsible for conducting regular maintenance and checks on equipment, in addition to NEA’s regular checks on facilities with oil pipelines throughout the year.
Responding to a question from Mr Dennis Tan (Hougang) on how MPA ensures that these checks are being carried out, Mr Murali said MPA will work with industry players and relevant government agencies to ensure minimal risks from oil spills caused by both land-based facilities and incidents in the water.
Noting that there is a system in place to detect and respond to oil spills, Mr Murali said responsible parties are required to immediately inform MPA and NEA.
Following that, MPA has a surveillance system that can identify and monitor oil sightings, including regular patrols by MPA patrol craft, industry partners and aerial drone flights. At the same time, MPA also notifies agencies to be on standby to deploy resources for clean-up operations and the prevention of further pollution.
Additionally, oil handling facilities in Singapore need to have containment booms, oil skimmers and dispersants on hand, as they may be called upon to use these resources to facilitate oil spill clean-up operations.
Asked by Mr Tan whether response times to oil spills can be improved, Mr Murali said it is important to note that every oil spill incident is different, given external factors such as tidal and current conditions, location and time of the incident, so multi-agency contingency plans would need to be tailored to each incident.
He added that the authorities are carefully assessing proposals including the preparation of more equipment, moving equipment closer to the port, and mandating that bunker vessels carry oil spill response equipment. These are being assessed to determine if they affect the navigational safety, efficiency and competitiveness of Singapore’s port.
It may not be practicable to have multiple sets of equipments located close to any potential incident site along the entire coastline, said Mr Murali.
He also noted that it may not be practical or feasible for all vessels to carry their own booms, as these may be costly.
Giving an update on the June 14 oil spill incident, Mr Murali said agencies are consolidating their compensation claims under the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds.
Investigations have also been completed, with four crewmen on the Netherlands-flagged dredger having been charged with failing to perform their duties properly.
But investigations into the incidents on Oct 20 and 28 are still ongoing, so the authorities are unable to provide more details, he added.
On the lessons learnt from past incidents, Mr Murali said the industry’s contingency plans take learning points from regular oil spill and chemical exercises, as well as experiences from these incidents, which have helped to strengthen communication and coordination across various agencies and with the public.
He added that random spot checks are being done to ensure that bunkering players follow standard procedures, and complete mandatory safety training as well as shipboard drills.
Noting that it is important for every company or individual involved to play their part and follow requirements, Mr Murali said: “We will hold parties accountable for any lapses or wrongdoing which may surface during the investigations.”
Related blog posts
- 5 tonnes of oil spilled at Changi, 28 Oct 2024
- Oil spill from Bukom refinery, 20 Oct 2024
- Pasir Panjang Terminal oil spill, 14 Jun 2024