PUTRAJAYA: A Department of Environment (DOE) investigation team has carried out inspections and sent samples of the oil spill at the Tanjung Langsat Port (PTL), Pasir Gudang, to the Chemistry Department for analysis, says DOE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar.
He said unloading operations were immediately halted at the port and the PTL Emergency Response Team (ERT) was activated.
“Two units of oil booms were deployed using several boats.
“In addition, the ERT team also carried out aerial monitoring using drones and based on the inspection, no more oil patches are visible on the water surface,” he said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported.
He added that the DOE is carrying out continuous monitoring at PTL and the surrounding coastal areas of Pasir Gudang as well as officially notifying Singapore’s Marine Port Authority.
He said based on the report so far, the beach areas in Changi, Singapore, and the ferry terminal had been contaminated with oil.
“The oil pollution in Malaysian waters has so far been contained, and PTL has been instructed to report the status of oil control and clean-up actions periodically until operations are concluded,” said Wan Abdul Latiff.
“The DOE is also collaborating with the Southern Region Marine Department and the Johor Port Authority to monitor the beaches and the sea to ensure these areas are free from oil pollution.”
The oil spill, he said, was caused by a leak in the pipe that channelled very low sulphur fuel oil from the terminal tank to the MT Epitome vessel at the PTL jetty.
