Malaysian authorities monitor oil spill after collision off Johor

Malaysian authorities are working closely to control the oil spill that resulted from the collision of a cargo ship with a tanker, in the waters off Johor, on 17 August, according to the Malaysian ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

In particular, at 8.20 pm past Thursday, “Sinica Graeca”, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, suffered considerable hull damage, after it collided with Chemroad Mega, 3.2 nautical miles off Tompok Utara near Pengerang, Kota Tinggi. However, there are no casualties reported.

Under the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, the Department of Energy (DoE), Marine Department of Malaysia and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency are investigating and monitoring the incident.

The owners of the ships have been asked to post USD 1.16 million in response to the oil spill, local media reported citing Malaysian ministry of transport.

Further, the DoE was quoted saying that it would investigate the offence of polluting territorial waters under Section 27 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.