Chinese VLCC involved in Singapore tanker collision apprehended in Malaysia

Chinese VLCC involved in Singapore tanker collision apprehended in Malaysia
Sam Chambers July 22, 2024 https://splash247.com/chinese-vlcc-involved-in-singapore-tanker-collisio...

Friday’s dangerous tanker collision off Singapore took a twist over the weekend with one of the vessels involved fleeing the scene before being apprehended by authorities in neighbouring Malaysia.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported that a fire broke out on both a Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile and a São Tomé and Príncipe-flagged tanker Ceres I on Friday morning about 55 km northeast of Pedra Branca within Singapore’s Maritime Search and Rescue Region.

The Hafnia Nile was carrying around 300,000 barrels of naphtha, according to data from Kpler and LSEG, while the Ceres I, a VLCC previously linked to the transport of Iranian crude, was empty. Available AIS data implies that the former hit the starboard bow of the latter at a speed of 14.2 knots.

Hafnia Nile is a 2017-built, 74,189 dwt LR1 tanker owned and operated by Hafnia. The 23-year-old Ceres I is owned by Ceres Shipping and managed by Shanghai Property Shipmanagement.

Remarkably the giant 300,000 dwt VLCC then tried to escape the scene, switching off its AIS, using two tugs to move away before being caught by the Malaysian coast guard.

Investigations into the accident are ongoing, while Malaysian authorities have warned they have detected a 17 sq km oil slick in the area.