An estimated 5,000 tons of crude oil is believed to have spilled into the sea. According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the Malaysian flagged MT Bunga Kelana 3 tanker collided with a bulk carrier registered under the flag of St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday morning in the Singapore Strait.

The collision left a 10-meter gash on the left side of the tanker, which was carrying condensate and light crude oil. The bulk carrier suffered minor damage, a Malaysian coastguard said. Both ships were anchored off the coast of Singapore after the accident.

Clean-up operation

There were no reports of injuries, the port authority of Singapore said on Tuesday. Singapore and Malaysia are conducting a joint clean-up operation. Emergency teams and specialist seacraft have rushed to contain the oil spilling.

The authorities said engineers were trying to plug the hole in the tanker and stop the leak.

The spill caused by the collision has been measured at fewer than 15,000 barrels. This is considerably smaller than Singapore's worst oil spill since the Maritime and Port Authority was created.

In 1997, two tankers collided in Singapore waters, leading to a leak of almost 30,000 tons of heavy marine fuel oil. The spill took three weeks to clean up.

Long-lasting impact

Victor Shum from the Purvin & Gertz oil consultancy in Singapore told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday that "even if the spill is contained, it will take some time to clean up."

Oil spills often cause damage to the environment and marine life and environmentalists are worried about the impact this latest spill could have.

The Strait of Singapore is one of the world's busiest sea lanes, connecting trade routes from Asia to Africa and to Europe.

du/Reuters/AFP/AP/dpa

Editor: Anne Thomas