THE chemical levels in water collected near the spot where a tanker leaked a dangerous corrosive off Pulau Ubin have been found to be within safe limits.

But Singaporeans are advised not to fish or go into the seas along the east coast until further tests have been done.

The Indonesian-registered tanker, Endah Lestari, capsized in the Straits of Johor on Wednesday, spilling some of its toxic cargo, the industrial solvent phenol, into the water.

The mishap has led to a ban on fishing and sea activities off Changi, Pasir Ris, Punggol and Pulau Ubin.

Thirty-seven floating fish farms which operate in the area have also been stopped from selling their produce.

The Government yesterday said that there were no traces of the pink-coloured corrosive in water samples it had taken from the straits.

It said in a statement that the phenol level from water collected from the nearest floating fish farm was 100 parts per billion, or 100 kg for every 1 billion kg. The safe limit for human contact and consumption of water is 300 parts per billion.

However, phenol levels in fish samples from the farm closest to the spill showed 410 parts per billion of phenol. The tolerance limit is 0.5 parts per billion for human consumption of fish.

The Environment Ministry and the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore said they would continue to monitor the situation closely, adding that phenol levels are expected to drop over time thrrough dispersion and biodegradation.

In a separate statement, the InterCoastal Shipowners’P&I B.V.,which owns the capsized tanker, said it believes a small percent of phenol was spilled but cannot confirm this.

Another tanker is expected to arrive tomorrow to collect the phenol that remains on the Endah Lestari.

Mr William Lai, chairman of Ponggol Marina, the company which owns Ubin Lagoon Resort, said no reservations there been cancelled.

Fish sellers, too, have not been affected. A wholesaler at the Senoko Fishing Port near Woodlands said: "Very few fish come from the floating farm in the affected straits. Our fish come from Indonesia.

-By Krist Boo

Source : The Straits Times, Jun 16, 2001

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