Singapore and Malaysia successfully conducted a chemical spill exercise along the Strait of Johor, which lies between Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia, on the July 10 as part of the two countries’ Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
Named ‘CHEMSPILL 2018’, the exercise simulated a collision between a fully laden tanker and product tanker near the island of Pulau Ubin as part of ERP practice for accidents during the seaborne transportation of chemicals across the strait.
See what work is being done to protect the marine environment by reading a Port Technology technical paper
Ronnie Tay, Singapore’s National Environment Agency’s Chief Executive, said: “Chemical spills can have a far-reaching impact on the environment and people. We are glad to have participated in this multi-agency exercise, which has allowed us to test our preparedness and sharpen our bilateral response in mitigating chemical spill incidents in the Straits of Johor.”
Founded in 2014, the ERP is an initiative by Singapore’s NEA, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Marine Department of Malaysia (MDM) and the Johor Department of Environment (DOE), which form part of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE).
The MPA’s Chief Executive, Andrew Tan said: “As chemical or oil spills are transboundary in nature, it is important that we conduct regular bilateral exercises with our immediate neighbours to strengthen regional and multi-agency response capabilities. Today’s exercise ensures that all agencies are ready to respond swiftly and effectively in the event of a chemical spill.”
