PUTRAJAYA, Dec 17 — Malaysia is closely monitoring the aftermath of yesterday’s two-ship collision in the Straits of Singapore, which resulted in a freighter ferrying 560 metric tonnes of oil to sink as there is a possibility of oil spill in Malaysian waters.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Malaysia had already taken precautionary measures against such an eventuality even though no oil spill was reported in the incident.
“Although the incident took place in Indonesian waters, monitoring is important because (we are) worried the oil spill could contaminate Malaysian waters through the currents, either through the Straits of Melaka, Straits of Singapore, or Johor waters,” he told Bernama here today.
He said he had also been in touch with Singapore’s Environment and Water Resources Minister, Masagor Zulkifli on the precautionary measures and preparedness of both countries in the event of an oil spill.
Wan Junaidi said the Department of Environment (DoE) would provide him with updates on the latest developments relating to the incident, adding it would also work with the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) in a press release posted on its Facebook page said, a freighter carrying 560 metric tonnes of bunker fuel, sank after it collided with a chemical tanker in the Straits of Singapore at 8.14pm yesterday, in Indonesian waters about six nautical miles (11km) north-west of Batam.
The freighter ‘Thorco Cloud’ bearing the Antigua and Barbuda flag with 12 crew members, collided with a Cayman Island-registered chemical tanker ‘Stolt Commitment’.
Reports said six crew members were missing following the collision.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director-general Admiral Datuk Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar when contacted said initial reports said the ‘Thorco Cloud’ had sank.
He urged Malaysian vessels passing through the straits to exercise care when approaching the site. — Bernama
