Beyond oil spills, Singapore will have to study risks of ammonia spills at sea

THE shipping industry is exploring a move away from fossil fuels, towards cleaner alternative fuels such as ammonia. But what happens if an accident leaks highly toxic ammonia into the sea – similar to the Jun 14 oil spill that hit Singapore’s coastline? As a maritime hub, Singapore will have to prepare to deal with the spectre of ammonia fuel spills and the new ecological risks they present.

With an oil spill, the effects are clearly severe. Singapore’s popular beaches have been left with blackened shores and oil-slicked waters. Marine biologists are concerned about the impact on coral reefs. An oil-coated kingfisher was spotted at Lazarus Island.

Less is known about the impact of large ammonia spills and how they compare to oil leaks. A 2022 study found that ammonia spills have a relatively smaller dispersion distance and lower persistence within the environment when compared to discharges of heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil.