Almost 300 tonnes of oil spilled into Malaysian and Singaporean waters after two container ships collided in a Malaysian port

Almost 300 tonnes of oil spilled into Malaysian and Singaporean waters after two container ships collided in a Malaysian port, officials said Wednesday.

"The oil spill has been contained," a local maritime official told AFP after Tuesday's accident in the busy port of Pasir Gudang in Malaysia's southern state of Johor bordering Singapore.

The Singapore-registered MT Wan Hai 301 collided with the Gibraltar-flagged MT APL Denver.

A preliminary investigation revealed the APL Denver was berthing when it was hit on its starboard side by Wan Hai 301, the official said.

The Marine and Port Authority of Singapore said 12 anti-pollution ships, including four from Malaysia, were deployed to clean up the oil.

It said the spill of 300 tonnes of oil was caused by damage to the fuel tank of the APL Denver.

Explore further Waters off Singapore's southeastern coastline clear of oil

© 2017 AFP