Malta registered ship in collision off Singapore

The Merchant Shipping Directorate of the Malta Maritime Authority is investigating a collision involving the Maltese registered ship Sea Liberty, which resulted in a minor oil spill.

The collision between the 22,000 gross ton bulk carrier Sea Liberty and the Panama-registered 15,000 gross ton container vessel mv Arabian Express happened close to midnight on Saturday about three km south-east of Kusu Island, Singapore.

According to a Reuters report of the incident, Kuru is designated as a tortoise sanctuary, but it was not immediately known if the tortoise population was threatened by the spill.

The agency quoted a spokeswoman for the authority as saying that a "thin sheen of oil" left behind had been cleaned up, and added that it was a "very minor spill".

The MMA said the mv Sea Liberty was transiting westbound in the Singapore Strait when she was apparently hit by the Arabian Express, which was departing Singapore, after leaving Brani Container Terminal.

The accommodation area on the starboard side and engine room of the Sea Liberty were damaged while the Arabian Express sustained minor damages at her forward ballast tank. Both vessels are in stable condition. The Sea Liberty and Arabian Express are now anchored to the south-east of Kusu Island.

MMA said the spill was cleaned up by four anti-pollution craft deployed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. There were no reports of injury to the crew members of either vessel.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is also investigating the incident.

The Singapore and neighbouring Malacca straits, a 1,000 km narrow stretch of waterway, is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and a vital lifeline between Asia and the rest of the world.