Port officials deny spill

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Belawan port denied there had been an oil spillage when a tanker loaded with 2,200 tons of palm oil caught fire in the Strait of Malacca off Aruah Island Monday.

"The MT Permaisuri cargo was saved and until now, there is no indication of water pollution at the site," the port official, Barjuweh, was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.

All 16 crew members were rescued, 13 by the ship MV Makassar Express on its way to Surabaya and the other three -- skipper Zulhelmi, the ship's radio operator and mechanic -- by the passenger cruiser KM Bukit Siguntang on its way to Jakarta.

The tanker, which flew the Indonesian flag, is now being towed to the Belawan port by a tugboat owned by the Singapore-based company, Smith Lloyd.

"We expect it to arrive (today)," Barjuweh said.

The tanker caught fire about 150 nautical miles off the Belawan port on its way to Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. (swe)