Shell oil spill: More than 30 metric tons of ‘slop’ seeped into sea off Bukom Island

SINGAPORE – More than 30 metric tonnes of “slop” – a mixture of oil and water – leaked into the sea between Bukom Island and Bukom Kecil on October 20, British petrochemical company Shell said.

In a statement on Oct. 21, the company said it was “actively working with all relevant authorities to manage the cleanup effort,” following an oil spill from an onshore pipeline.

The leak had been stopped since 3pm on October 20, Shell said, estimating that “30 to 40 metric tonnes” of slop had leaked into the sea.

“Our priority is to ensure the safety of people and limit the environmental impact as we work to resolve it as soon as possible. We appreciate the support and cooperation of the authorities and our communities as we work diligently to minimize the impact “, the company said, adding that more information will be released soon.

Shell added that it has deployed booms, anti-fouling vessels and dispersant spray to contain and break up the oil as part of the ongoing cleanup effort.

The oil spill originated around 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 20 after an onshore pipeline belonging to Shell “spill into a containment area, but some overflowed” into the water channel between the Bukom Island and Bukom Kecil.

The Maritime and Port Authority was notified of the incident more than seven hours later at around 1pm.

In a separate advisory on the morning of October 21, the National Environment Agency advised the public to avoid swimming and other high-contact water activities near the beaches of East Coast Park, Kusu Island, Sant Joan Island and Llàtzer Island.

The public, however, can still continue with water activities at Tanjong Beach, Palawan Beach and Siloso Beach on Sentosa Island, a Sentosa Development Corporation spokesperson said on Oct. 21.