Singapore’s Worst Oil Spill in a Decade, Dredger Crew Face Charges
Four crew members of the Netherlands-flagged dredger, Vox Maxima, are facing serious charges in Singapore for their alleged roles in causing the worst oil spill the country has seen in a decade.
The charges, filed on November 6, accuse the crew of neglecting key duties under the Merchant Shipping Act, resulting in severe environmental damage.
The oil spill occurred on June 14, 2024, when the Vox Maxima, operated by Dutch company Van Oord, collided with the bunker vessel Marine Honour at Singapore’s Pasir Panjang Terminal.
The collision caused extensive damage to a tank on Marine Honour, spilling around 400 tonnes of fuel oil into the surrounding waters, affecting both Singaporean and Malaysian coastlines.
Key locations, including East Coast Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, and Sentosa, suffered extensive environmental impact as the oil spread rapidly across the coasts.
The accused crew members—Captain Richard Ouwehand, Engineer Merijn Heidema, Eric Peijpers, and Officer Martin Hans Sinke—allegedly failed to take critical emergency actions that could have prevented the spill.
Following the incident, Vox Maxima was detained in Singapore for inspection, where the Maritime and Port Authority identified 13 safety issues onboard, including fire safety and lifeboat problems.
Singapore’s cleanup operation involved over 700 personnel and 3,400 meters of containment barriers, yet sensitive areas sustained major damage. The crew is scheduled to reappear in court on December 4, 2024.