State-owned Petronas yesterday sent a team to contain an oil spill off the port of Kertih in Terengganu.

The company said in a statement that the leak occurred late Thursday when a tanker located about one kilometre offshore was being loaded, adding that about 50 barrels were spilled.

What was spilled, it said, was an oil product known as low sulphur waxy residue.

The liquid was being piped from Petronas' Kertih refinery to the tanker.

Tar balls

It said Petronas was carrying out work to contain the spill and clean-up operations were under way to recover the substance which have formed into tar balls.

The statement also said that the Department of Environment and related authorities have been notified.

A shore clean-up team has been put on standby for cleaning should the tar balls reach the shore.