Singapore - The managers of Thai supertanker, Orapin Global, said on Friday the Cyprus-registered tanker, Evoikos, was to blame for a collision which caused one of the worst oil spills to hit south-east Asia. A spokesman for the managers of the Evoikos in London declined to respond to the charge from Denholm Ship Management Ltd.
No one was hurt in the accident which spilt 25,000 tonnes of marine fuel oil into the Singapore Strait. "The tanker, Evoikos, had been proceeding east in the eastbound traffic lane and instead of altering course to starboard off Buffalo Rock, to follow the east lane course, cut across the westbound lane at a narrow angle - rather than at right angles as required by international regulations," a statement said. The collision left the Evoikos, carrying 120,000 tonnes of heavy marine fuel oil to Singapore, with a crumpled port side.