Oil slick stays away from S'pore

Oil slick stays away from S'pore

SINGAPORE (AP): Favorable winds and a growing team of pollution fighters protected the main island of Singapore yesterday from a massive offshore oil slick.

Most of the seven million gallons of fuel that spilled into the Singapore Strait after two ships collided remained to the south and southwest of the main island and the tourist islands of Sentosa and Kusu.

The Maritime and Port Authority said only the islands of Senang, Palwai and Sudong have been hit. They are used for gunnery practice by the Singapore Air Force.

Almost 50 boats were involved in the cleanup, some spraying chemical dispersants, others skimming up oil or positioning floating containment booms.