Leaking Malaysian Tanker Transfers Crude Oil

The damaged oil tanker, MT Bunga Kelana 3. fotoBernamaSINGAPORE, May 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian oil tanker which leaked over 2,500 tonnes of crude into the Singapore Strait after it was struck by a bulk carrier Tuesday is currently transferring its crude internally onboard.

AET Tanker Holdings Sdn Bhd, the owner of MT Bunga Kelana 3 which collided with the bulk carrier, MV Waily, said today that after the Bintulu light grade oil had been transferred, an assessment on the ship's underwater damage would be carried out.

The tanker is currently anchored off Changi East, and will move to another anchorage after the assessment on the underwater damage is completed.

MT Bunga Kelana 3 collided with MV Waily while travelling from east to west in the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait, 13km southeast of Changi East, at 6.03am.

The incident caused significant damage to the vessel's hull and resulted in a spill of crude oil that is now being cleaned up by specialists in 15 boats, well into the night, using 50 tonnes of dispersant and 4,000m of boom.

Cleaning efforts resumed early this morning with the addition of more than 100 personnel deployed along the shoreline in case the spill reached the Singapore coast, AET said.

AET is also cooperating fully with the Malaysian authorities in readiness for possible clean-up operations along the south-eastern coast of peninsular Malaysia.