An oil spill that began at a luxury beach resort in Singapore has expanded to other parts of the island nation, including a marine reserve, prompting intensified cleanup efforts by authorities.
The spill originated when a Netherlands-flagged dredger, Vox Maxima, collided with a Singapore-flagged bunker vessel, Marine Honor, on Friday afternoon, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Although the leakage from Marine Honor was contained and treated with dispersants by Saturday, some treated fuel spread due to tidal currents, the MPA reported.
The spill has now reached beyond the Pasir Panjang Terminal cargo port, located less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Sentosa, a renowned resort island known for its luxury hotels, golf courses, and Universal Studios Singapore.
This incident coincided with the Hari Raya Haji long holiday weekend, a time when locals and tourists typically visit Sentosa and other attractions.
While the full extent of environmental damage remains unclear, Marine Stewards, a local conservation group, shared images of oil-covered birds and coastlines on social media.
“We have seen multiple cases of wildlife affected—such as kingfishers, otters, and monitor lizards coated in oil, as well as seabirds with oil-stained legs. Additionally, there are reports of dead fish and a sea snake,” said Sue Ye, the founder of Marine Stewards.
Cleanup operations, involving approximately 100 workers, are ongoing on Sentosa’s beaches, according to a spokesperson from the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC).
Although Sentosa’s beaches are open to the public, swimming and water activities are prohibited at Tanjong, Palawan, and Siloso beaches on the island’s west coast, as per the SDC.
Moreover, St. John’s, Lazarus, and Kusu Islands have been closed off since Sunday evening due to the slick reaching their shores. These islands are popular day-trip destinations accessed by ferries and yacht charters, as stated in a joint statement from the National Parks Board, along with scientists and volunteers from Friends of Marine Park.
Authorities have deployed skimmer vessels for cleanup and laid nearly 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) of oil absorbent booms to safeguard a coastal natural reserve with mangroves.
Singapore, a key global shipping and fuel bunkering hub, sits along a busy strait linking the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. With dimensions of about 13 kilometers (8 miles) long and 19 kilometers (11.8 miles) wide, dotted with small islands, it’s one of the world’s busiest commercial waterways, accommodating around 1,000 ships daily.
Heng Kiah Chun, a regional campaign strategist for Greenpeace, described the incident as a “wake-up call” for transitioning away from fossil fuels, which have lasting detrimental effects on people and the environment.
“The oil spill poses an escalating environmental crisis, impacting critical marine protected areas and fisheries in the region,” Heng emphasized.