29-6-2024 (SINGAPORE) While the initial efforts to clear the shorelines of East Coast Park following Singapore’s largest oil spill in over a decade have been successful, remnants of the spill still linger on structures like rock bunds and pier walls. As the cleanup enters its second phase, specialized equipment and techniques are being deployed to address these stubborn oil stains, which, if left unchecked, could potentially leach into the sea and cause further environmental damage.
Over time, the oil remnants have begun to dry and harden, making their removal more challenging. As the waves crash repeatedly against the oil-stained beach structures, there is a risk of oil sheens forming and polluting the surrounding waters. To combat this issue, specialized equipment such as marine firefighting pumps, shallow-water boats, and high-pressure wash units are now being utilized at East Coast Park.
This second phase of the cleanup operation is expected to span three months, with public areas set to reopen progressively as the work is completed.
During a media visit organized by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on June 28, trained crew members were observed using high-pressure water streams to dislodge oil from tainted pier walls. Starting from the farthest end of the pier, they methodically inched their way towards the shoreline, with booms laid out to absorb the dislodged oil.
“There is an angle (used to flush oil out) that’s the most effective. They cannot spray (the water) straight on as the oil will splatter everywhere,” explained Mohamed Farook Ghani, senior assistant director at NEA’s division of public cleanliness.
The cleanup at East Coast Park is being conducted section by section, starting from Area B. Factors like wind conditions and currents add to the complexity of the operations, with tidal movements also causing oil to become buried under the sand.
“The work that can be carried out is highly dependent on the tide, because surfaces are exposed only during low or mid-tide… So that’s why we have a limited window of time to work every day,” said Mohamed Farook.
In areas where oil is buried, cleaning personnel will need to flood the area with high volumes of low-pressure water, flushing the oil to the surface. There are approximately 12 such natural collection points at East Coast Park, where oil accumulates due to the influence of tide, wind, water movement, the shoreline’s contour, and the presence of man-made structures.
“We know that along these areas are where we need to focus our flushing efforts. For areas that have biodiversity, there will be no aggressive cleaning, and we will remove tar balls only on the sand surface,” added Mohamed Farook.
To ensure the safety of cleaning personnel, contractors will assess site conditions, task nature, and risks before determining the appropriate personal protective equipment. Workers performing tasks with more direct contact with oil deposits may require additional protection.
The oil spill occurred on June 14 when 400 tonnes of low-sulfur fuel oil leaked into the sea after a bunker vessel was struck by a dredging boat at Pasir Panjang Terminal. Coastlines at East Coast Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, Keppel Bay, the Southern Islands, and Sentosa were affected.
After a massive initial cleanup effort, the authorities announced on June 24 that the removal of bulk oil from the sea and beaches was nearly complete.
