KOTA TINGGI: A thick oil spillage from a ship collision at Singapore's Pasir Panjang Terminal on Friday has spread to Pengerang waters and coastline here, affecting its marine ecosystem.
Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said some 400 tonnes of low-sulphur marine fuel oil (MFO) 380 were released into the sea, due to the crash.
"The oil spill was noticed on Tuesday about 8.30am.
"Johor Environment Department (JAS) officers roped in several agencies and conducted sea patrols to assess the situation," he said.
Representatives from the Johor Southern Region Marine Department, Johor Port Authority, Kota Tinggi District Office, Pengerang Municipal Council, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Marine police, Navy, Civil Defence Force, Dialog Terminals Pengerang Sdn Bhd and Petronas Pengerang were deployed to the scene to monitor the oil spill along the Pengerang coastline and its surrounding waters.
Ling said the agencies were working to contain the oil spill which was reported to have encroached the Sungai Renggit beach yesterday.
"JAS will activate the beach-cleaning action plan, which includes a coordinated cleanup operation, if necessary," he said.
Tanjung Surat Assemblyman Aznan Tamin said the oil spill had spread to Kota Tinggi waters yesterday.
On Friday, Netherlands-registered ship Vox Maxima, collided with an oil tanker from Singapore, Marine Honor, at the Pasir Panjang Terminal.
The crash caused about 400 tonnes marine fuel to leak into the waters.
Aznan, who is also Johor Education and Information Committee chairman, said he chaired a meeting with Kota Tinggi district officers on ways to mitigate the environmental impact.