JOHOR BARU: Johor Marine Department today said it will need about one week to clean up the oil spill off Tanjung Balau waters, near Kota Tinggi.
That, according to its director Dickson Dollah, would also depend on the weather.
"Looking at the current situation, we can estimate that the clean up job will take about one week.
"If the weather permits, and the currents do not spread the spill landwards, I believe it is doable." he said when contacted.
Dickson said an Oil Spill Response Team has been deployed to the site to monitor and control the spread using absorbent booms.
"We are hoping that the monitoring and measures taken since yesterday will prevent the spill from spreading to the shores." he added.
It was reported that foreign tankers were believed to have dumped marine fuel oil that resulted in the spill.
Authorities said it was estimated that 300 tonnes of marine fuel oil had been discharged and the spill covered an area four nautical miles from the coast.