At about 0200 hours this morning, The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) received a report that an oil leak from a Liberian-registered tanker "Stolt Botan" had occurred while it was taking bunkers at the Sultan Shoal Petroleum Anchorage.

Twenty-seven tonnes of marine fuel oil was estimated by the master of the tanker to have leaked into the sea through a hole on the shipside. Oil patches were observed at the Jurong and Western Anchorages, and Sinki Fairway.

The MPA immediately activated its oil spill contingency plan. A total of 16 anti-pollution craft, including oil booms and skimmers, from PSA Marine, Tian San Shipping, Exxon-Mobil (S) Pte Ltd and East Asia Response Ltd (EARL) were deployed to carry out the cleaning up operations.

The hole measuring 10 cm in diameter had been plugged and the oil in the tank had been transferred to another tank. There is no leakage from any part of the hull.

The MPA is investigating the incident.

End of Release.