Safety lapses have been found aboard one of the ships involved in the collision that led to Singapore’s worst oil spill in over a decade.
The 29,900-gt trailing suction hopper dredger Vox Maxima (built 2009) was detained after failing a port state control inspection a day after it collided with the 9,000-dwt bunker tanker Marine Honour (built 2007) off the Pasir Panjang container terminal.
Singapore inspectors uncovered 13 deficiencies aboard the Netherlands-flagged dredger, three of which were serious enough to warrant its detention.
These three deficiencies related to life-saving appliances, fire safety and international safety management, data from the Tokyo MoU showed.
Other deficiencies found included structural conditions as well as oil accumulation in the engine room, but these were not deemed as grounds for detention.
News of the safety lapses has largely gone unreported until now. This is mainly due to the fact that Singapore rarely discloses ship detentions for PSC.
A spokesperson for Van Oord confirmed to TradeWinds that the deficiencies were found aboard the vessel during a PSC inspection.
“Rectification of these deficiencies is ongoing, with close-out being done by Bureau Veritas and Lloyds Register,” the spokesperson added.
The Vox Maxima is said to have suffered a sudden loss in engine and steering control before the incident, according to initial investigations into the incident by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Singapore has detained 30 vessels for failing PSC so far this year. This compares with 67 in the corresponding period last year.
On Tuesday, Singapore authorities reported that it may take up to two weeks to safely lighter the remaining 800 tonnes of low-sulphur fuel oil on the bunker tanker to ensure the stability of the vessel throughout the process.
“The damaged Marine Honour is currently anchored off the western petroleum anchorage,” the MPA confirmed in a statement.
“The remaining fuel oil on board from the ruptured cargo tank and its full contents on board the vessel must be emptied before it can be towed into the shipyard for its repair.
“Aside from the containment booms laid around the vessel, a 35-tonne oil load Current Buster system is on station to respond to any potential leaks in the lightering process to transfer the oil to another vessel.”
