Labuan’s ship-to-ship hazardous material transfer operation strictly monitored
LABUAN: The ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of hazardous cargoes within the Labuan port limit of Victoria Bay here will be strictly monitored, taking into consideration the environmental impact.
Labuan Port Authority (LPA) chairman Datuk P Kamalanathan Panchanathan said stringent monitoring will be conducted each time the STS activity is carried out.
“In view of the proximity of the designated (approved) berth areas for the STS transfer to the marine park of Kuraman Island, the monitoring is necessary.
“We cannot be negligent in handling hazardous materials that can have an environmental impact, especially to the ecosystem and marine life at the marine park of Kuraman Island.
“Risk management must be carried out by the operator to ensure that there are no accidental oil spills during and after the STS activity is carried out,” he told Bernama yesterday.
He added that the government has approved the designation of six berth areas for STS activities – enough space for up to 12 vessels to conduct STS activities at the same time. Meanwhile, Labuan-based Victoria STS (Labuan) Sdn Bhd embarked on a new chapter in cargo handling yesterday, carrying out an STS crude oil transfer operation for the first time ever at the Labuan port limit of Victoria Bay.
An expert in offshore handling of liquefied gas and bulk petroleum cargoes, Victoria STS received its licence on July 31, 2021 to conduct STS transfer operations of oil and liquefied gas products within the Victoria port limit of Labuan.
Its chief executive officer Benjamin Bernard Bijion said such operations will only be conducted in good weather conditions to ensure a safe transfer of cargo and within environmental parameters.
He said the company will be handling products such as crude, diesel and residual fuel oil, various types of gas and gasoline, jet fuels, naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas and liquefied ethane gas.
“As an STS service provider, we have class-approved operation procedures and guidelines in place, including an emergency response plan,” he said.