Malaysia says tankers in July 19 collision anchored in its waters
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A rigid-hulled inflatable boat of Singapore navy ship RSS Supreme in the vicinity of the burning vessels, north-east of the Singapore island of Pedra Branca on July 19.
PHOTO: REUTERS
KUALA LUMPUR – Two large oil tankers that collided and caught fire near Singapore earlier in July are afloat and anchored in Malaysian waters, amid an ongoing investigation into the incident, Malaysia’s Marine Department said on July 30.
The Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged Ceres I collided and caught fire about 55km north-east of the Singapore island of Pedra Branca
The Hafnia Nile, a Panamax tanker, was carrying about 300,000 barrels of naphtha destined for Japan, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler and LSEG. Naphtha is a raw material for making petrochemicals.
“The Hafnia Nile is hazardous as it is still carrying its naphtha cargo,” Captain Mohamad Halim Ahmed, director-general of Malaysia’s Marine Department, told a press conference, adding that the tanker was severely burnt and its superstructure was compromised but its cargo intact.
“Our priority is to ensure it remains afloat and can be moved safely.”
Capt Mohamad Halim said preliminary investigations found that the Ceres I was anchored before the collision due to technical issues. The Hafnia Nile’s attempts to avoid the Ceres I failed, resulting in the collision, he said.
Malaysia’s coast guard initially said the Ceres I, a very large crude carrier, had fled the location of the incident and was believed to have turned off its tracking system.
However, Capt Mohamad Halim said the Ceres I had drifted away from the site as its anchor had been damaged, before it was located and detained by Malaysia’s coast guard. He said no oil spill was detected at the location of the collision, only an oil sheen believed to be from damage to the Hafnia Nile’s bunker tank.
Capt Mohamad Halim said his department was in contact with the Singapore authorities and the owner of the Ceres I to move both vessels to a safe location.
Once both vessels are moved out of open waters to a port, the Malaysian government would decide on the next steps of the investigation, he said. REUTERS
