In a recent maritime incident, an oil spill has occurred along Singapore's southern coastline, including the popular resort island of Sentosa, after a dredger boat collided with a stationary cargo tanker. The incident, which took place on Friday, has raised concerns about potential harm to marine wildlife and prompted an immediate cleanup operation.

The dredger boat involved in the collision, the Netherlands-flagged Vox Maxima, struck the Singaporean fuel supply ship Marine Honor, resulting in damage to the cargo tank and subsequent oil leakage into the sea. Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority confirmed on Saturday that the oil leak had been contained, and the escaped oil had been treated with dispersants.

Despite the containment efforts, the treated oil was carried by tidal currents and has landed along various shorelines, including Sentosa Island, a nature reserve, and a public beach park. As a precautionary measure, sections of the beachfront at the public park and nature reserve have been temporarily closed to support the ongoing cleanup operation. However, Sentosa beach remains open to the public, with restrictions on swimming and sea activities.

Witnesses on Sunday observed workers in orange suits scooping up sand at an empty beach in Sentosa as part of the cleanup operation. The shorelines affected by the spill were seen to be stained with black water due to the oil contamination.

Responding to the incident, authorities have deployed 18 crafts for the cleanup efforts and laid approximately 1,500 meters of container booms along the affected areas. These temporary floating barriers are aimed at trapping and preventing further spread of the oil spill onto the shorelines.

The Maritime and Port Authority stated that additional container booms will be laid in the coming days to prevent the trapped oil from returning to the sea. This step will also aid in facilitating the recovery of the spilled oil from the affected shorelines and lagoons.

Amidst concerns for marine and wildlife, conservationists and biologists are closely monitoring the situation to assess the extent of the damage. Local conservation group, Marine Stewards, has reported the discovery of dead fish, otters, and kingfishers covered in the oil slick. Sue Ye, the founder of the group, emphasized the detrimental effects of oil spills on marine life, explaining that they can smother and suffocate creatures that need to come to the surface for air, such as turtles and dolphins.

As the cleanup operation intensifies, Singapore remains committed to restoring the affected coastal areas and safeguarding its diverse marine ecosystem.