Discover the Straits-Nomura: Ratings & Maritime News

On March 12, 2025, four Dutch crew members from the dredger 'Vox Maxima' (IMO: 9454096), involved in a severe oil spill off Singapore's coast on June 14, 2024, acknowledged their failures in duty before a judge in Singapore. The crew—comprising Richard Ouwehand (49), Martin Hans Sinke (48), Eric Peijpers (56), and Merijn Heidema (26)—pleaded guilty to one charge each under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 linked to the oil spill incident. The dredger experienced engine failure, leading to an allision with the bunker tanker 'Marine Honour', resulting in a substantial fuel oil leak and the largest oil spill in Singapore in a decade, affecting local beach parks and nature reserves. Prosecutor Regina Lim stated that the clean-up operations spanned two months. Among the accused, one was the captain and another the first mate, with Peijpers and Heidema serving as engineers. The prosecution is pushing for fines ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 14,000 to 34,000 euros) for each individual involved. The incident occurred when maintenance work led to the opening of a circuit breaker, disrupting the flow of electrical power essential for the vessel's operation. Peijpers and Heidema failed to check the status of the circuit breakers before taking their engineering watch, which legally was part of their responsibilities. As they readied the dredger for departure to ST Engineering Marine’s Tuas shipyard, the tripping of the port-side circuit breaker resulted in a catastrophic loss of power to vital equipment, including the rudders, leading to a loss of steering control. Despite knowing the urgency of the situation, Ouwehand and Sinke neglected to engage emergency steering, resulting in a collision with the 'Marine Honour'—a mishap that inflicted damage on at least six water ballast tanks, ten cargo oil tanks, and the slop port tank. Currently, the vessel is undergoing repairs in Singapore, with restoration costs projected to exceed $6.6 million. The prosecution seeks fines of 20,000 to 30,000 dollars for both Ouwehand and Sinke, while Heidema and Peijpers could face fines of 40,000 to 50,000 dollars each. If convicted, they could face fines of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Their sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2025.

On July 2, Parliament convened to address the recent oil spill incident at Pasir Panjang Terminal, where Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, and National Development Minister Desmond Lee provided detailed ministerial statements. The ministers responded to a total of 40 inquiries from 23 members of Parliament across party lines. Notably, Ms. Nadia Ahmad Samdin from Ang Mo Kio GRC sought clarity on the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for managing oil spills. Other MPs, including Mr. Alex Yam of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC and Mr. Edward Chia from Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, raised concerns regarding the estimated cleanup costs associated with the incident. The oil spill, which occurred on June 14 when the 'Vox Maxima' lost control and collided with the berthed 'Marine Honour' at approximately 2:18 p.m., resulted in oil washing up on popular locations such as Sentosa and East Coast Park by June 15. The initial containment efforts faced challenges due to a thunderstorm and the onset of nightfall, leading to a 15-hour delay in deploying the necessary booms. The response and timeline for laying the containment booms were critically examined during the session, particularly by Workers' Party MP Louis Chua from Sengkang GRC, who queried Singapore's mandated response times for various levels of oil spills. In response, Minister Chee elaborated on the complexities involved, noting that each spill is unique, influenced by factors such as oil density and environmental conditions. He emphasized that the authorities and contractors adhered to established international practices in oil spill responses. Initially, dispersants were utilized to break down the spilled oil, allowing for cleanup operations to begin. By 5:15 a.m. on June 15, the contractor T&T Salvage Asia had managed to deploy 200 meters of booms, despite facing logistical challenges brought on by inclement weather. Chee supported the contractor, highlighting that the response time aligned with global industry standards and addressed the inevitable time lapse between an oil spill event and the full deployment of containment measures. His statements addressed concerns regarding the efficiency of the boom deployment, affirming that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and its contractors had to contend with poor visibility and logistical constraints. Questions arose regarding the economic viability of having an in-house capability for containing oil spills versus relying on external contractors. Chee confirmed that while the MPA possesses its own resources, a hybrid approach is adopted, combining local expertise with outsourced specialization for better spill management. The overarching message from this parliamentary debate underscored the collaborative effort required to effectively tackle oil spills, stressing the importance of coordination among various stakeholders.

The dredger 'Vox Maxima' has come under scrutiny after safety violations were uncovered during a port state control inspection that followed its collision with the tanker 'Marine Honour' near Singapore's Pasir Panjang container terminal. This inspection revealed 13 deficiencies on the 'Vox Maxima', with three critical issues linked to life-saving equipment, fire safety protocols, and international safety management necessitating its detention. Other noted concerns included structural integrity issues and oil build-up in the engine room, though these were not severe enough to affect the ship's operational status. Efforts to resolve these hazards are currently underway, with both Bureau Veritas and Lloyds Register overseeing the correction process. Initial investigations conducted by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore indicated that the 'Vox Maxima' experienced an unexpected loss of engine and steering control prior to the collision. In the meantime, Singaporean authorities have announced that it will likely take up to two weeks to properly lighter the remaining 800 tonnes of low-sulphur fuel oil from the 'Marine Honour'. This step is crucial to maintain the vessel's stability throughout the operation. Currently anchored at the western petroleum anchorage, the tanker must offload its remaining fuel from the damaged cargo tank before it can be towed to a shipyard for repairs. To prevent any potential spills during this delicate process, containment booms have been deployed, and a 35-tonne oil load Current Buster system is on standby to swiftly address any leaks that may occur while transferring oil to another vessel.