Volunteers may be called to help with final phase of cleanups

Volunteers may be tapped in the final phase of beach cleanup operations to remove tar balls, which are small blobs of coagulated oil mixed in sand, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.

- Lee Li Ying

“This will likely be done with rakes and sieves, rather than shovels, to avoid removing too much uncontaminated sand,” said Ms Fu on June 24.

“We are planning to involve volunteers working alongside our cleaning personnel so that we can relieve our workers and accelerate the reopening of our beaches. We will ensure that this is conducted safely and that volunteers are properly equipped,” she added.

She was giving an overview of the progress of cleanup operations following Singapore’s largest oil spill in more than a decade during a joint ministerial press conference.

About 400 tonnes of oil spilled into Singapore waters after Netherlands-flagged dredging boat Vox Maxima hit the stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour at Pasir Panjang Terminal on June 14.

Ms Fu said the initial phase of cleaning has been largely completed. Large patches of oil and 550 tonnes of oil-soaked sand have been removed from the sea and affected beaches.