Oil patches have been found off Pulau Sebarok, Pulau Semakau and Selat Pauh in Singapore’s southern waters, prompting the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to activate its oil spill response contractors.
MPA is investigating where the oil came from and working with agencies and terminals to contain and clean up the patches.
The authority said in a statement on 1 November 2026 that it received an alert about oil off Pulau Sebarok at about 10:25am that day. Subsequent aerial checks confirmed several patches across the three locations.
No Oil Patches Seen Near Sentosa or East Coast During Checks
MPA said its aerial surveillance found no oil patches near West Coast, Sentosa, the Southern Islands or East Coast.
Surveillance is continuing.
Terminals Told to Deploy Spill Response Resources
Besides activating its contractors, MPA has directed terminals in the area to deploy their own spill response resources.
Relevant agencies have been alerted to take precautions to protect shorelines if needed. Ships in port have also been asked to report any oil patches they spot.
MPA said navigational traffic and port operations were unaffected at the time of its statement.
