Part 1 - The Chronology
Pulau Ubin
East, Singapore
May 2010
Oil slick threatens S'pore coast after ship collision
25 May 2010 2046 hrs (GMT + 8hrs), Channelnewsasia.com
Emergency teams scrambled to contain a 2,500-tonne oil spill near one of the world's busiest ports on Tuesday after two vessels collided in the Singapore Strait, officials said.
A crude oil slick about four kilometres (2.5 miles) long and one kilometre wide was spotted near the east coast of Singapore hours after the pre-dawn collision, Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said.
The Malaysian-registered tanker MT Bunga Kelana suffered a gash on its port side after colliding with the MV Waily, a bulk carrier registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Malaysian maritime officials said.
Parts of East Coast beach closed due to oil spill
By Hetty Musfirah, Jessica Yeo
26 May 2010 1729 hrs (GMT + 8hrs), Channelnewsasia.com
Parts of Singapore's East Coast beach have been closed to the public after traces of oil slick from Tuesday's ship collision were found near the shore.
By Hetty Musfirah, Jessica Yeo
26 May 2010 1729 hrs (GMT + 8hrs), Channelnewsasia.com
Parts of Singapore's East Coast beach have been closed to the public after traces of oil slick from Tuesday's ship collision were found near the shore.
According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), the affected area stretched some five kilometres - from the National Sailing Centre to waters near Gold Kist Beach Resort.
The first traces of oil in the area were detected at 3.45pm on Wednesday.
Patches of oil were also found at the coastline between Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and Changi Naval Base.
NEA has deployed officers to clean up both sites and is advising the public to stay away from East Coast beach for the time being.
Oil spill spreads to Chek Jawa & Changi Beach
By Joanne Chan
28 May 2010 1604 hrs (GMT + 8hrs), Channelnewsasia.com
The oil spill caused by the collision of two vessels at sea on Tuesday has spread to Chek Jawa, a wetland off Changi Point.
28 May 2010 1604 hrs (GMT + 8hrs), Channelnewsasia.com
The oil spill caused by the collision of two vessels at sea on Tuesday has spread to Chek Jawa, a wetland off Changi Point.
Oil patches have also been spotted along a 700-metre stretch of Changi Beach between car parks 6 and 7.
Clean up operations are still underway at East Coast Park, amid concerns on the damage on coastal wildlife.
The sand at Changi Beach was coated with oil as cleanup operations continue for a fourth day.
Singapore's Chek Jawa, which is popular with nature lovers, has also been hit.
As of Friday afternoon, oil patches were spotted along a 150-metre stretch of its coastal boardwalk.
The mudflat on Pulau Ubin boasts of several different ecosystems, as well as plants and animals that are no longer common in Singapore.
Contractors and officers have been sent to Chek Jawa, as well as Changi Beach to clear the affected sand and remove the oil.
