Leaking pipeline at Johor’s Tanjung Langsat Port Terminal causes oil spill

 

Low sulfur fuel oil was being transferred to a vessel at the Tanjung Langsat Port Terminal’s jetty when the leak occurred, said the environment department. (TLPT pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The oil spill detected at the Tanjung Langsat Port Terminal (TLPT) in Johor yesterday was traced to a leaky pipeline transferring very low sulfur fuel oil to a vessel at the jetty, says the environment department.

The department’s director-general, Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, said the department received a complaint on the spill.

“Approximately 1.6m³ of oil spilled into the sea,” he said in a statement today.

Wan Latiff said drone inspections have since confirmed that no visible oil patches remain on the water’s surface.

He said Singapore’s Marine Port Authority was also notified after reports indicated that the oil had reached Changi Beach and the ferry terminal.

“As of midday, the oil pollution in Malaysian waters has been successfully contained.

“TLPT has been instructed to provide status updates on control measures and oil cleanup efforts periodically until the operation is fully concluded,” he said.

Earlier today, The Straits Times of Singapore reported that parts of Pulau Ubin, Changi Beach and Pasir Ris Beach were cordoned off after the oil patch was sighted off Pulau Ubin a day earlier.

Cleanup operations were carried out today in the areas on the northeastern coast of Pulau Ubin, Area 1 of Pasir Ris Beach, and parts of Changi Beach. - FMT