Dredger Crew Face Charges For Causing Singapore’s Worst Oil Spill In A Decade

Four crew members of the Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima have been charged in Singapore for their involvement in causing the country’s worst oil spill in ten years.

The charges filed on November 6 accuse the crew of failing to carry out key responsibilities under the Merchant Shipping Act.

The spill occurred on June 14, 2024, when the Vox Maxima, operated by Dutch company Van Oord, collided with the bunker vessel Marine Honour in Singapore’s Pasir Panjang Terminal.

The collision damaged a tank on the Marine Honour, spilling about 400 tonnes of fuel oil into the sea.

The spill spread across Singapore’s coastlines, impacting areas like East Coast Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, Sentosa, and even the Johor coast in Malaysia.

The four crew members, identified as Captain Richard Ouwehand (49), Engineer Merijn Heidema (25) and Eric Peijpers (55), and Officer Martin Hans Sinke (48), are accused of taking emergency actions.

Ouwehand and Sinke did not use emergency steering, while Heidema and Peijpers did not maintain enough power for steering power.

After the incident, the Vox Maxima was detained in Singapore for inspection.

The Maritime and Port Authority found 13 issues onboard, including problems with fire safety and lifeboats. After repairs, the vessel was allowed for departure on June 30.

Singapore launched a large cleanup operation, deploying over 700 people and using 3,400 meters of containment barriers.

Despite timely actions, sensitive areas sustained major damage. The cleanup collected around 550 tons of oil-stained sand and debris from affected beaches.

The crew members are scheduled to appear in court again on December 4, 2024.

References: DredgeWire, The Straits Times

Source: Maritime Shipping News