A pipeline owned by British oil giant Shell began leaking oil into the sea on Tuesday, Singapore authorities said, adding that the spill has been contained and that clean-up teams have been dispatched to the site.
The leak began early this morning on a pipeline connecting Bukom and Bukom Kecil islands (south of Singapore), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in a statement.
"The leak is believed to have been stopped at the source," the MPA said.
"Shell has placed containment booms around the leak site and has also sent platforms equipped with dispersants to clean up the oil spill in the vicinity of the leak," the authority added.
The MPA said it has also sent equipment and a team to help clean up the fuel slick and has activated drones and satellite capabilities to monitor the spill.
"The relevant government agencies have been alerted and are required to report any sightings of oil traces," it said, adding that "there have been no further sightings of oil" as of tonight (it is seven hours ahead of mainland Portugal in Singapore).
Shell operates a major oil refinery in Bukom.
The MPA said it had issued "safety messages" to "ask passing vessels to stay away from the area", although this did not affect navigation safety.
In June, Singapore closed beaches on the coastal island of Sentosa after an oil spill caused by an accident at Pasir Panjang port. The clean-up of the affected beaches was completed last month.
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