Collision and Fire Incident Involving Two Oil Tankers Near Singaporean Waters

Malaysia's coast guard reported a collision between two large oil tankers, Ceres I and Hafnia Nile, leading to fires on both vessels. While all crew members were accounted for, the Ceres I has left the accident site and turned off its tracking system. Investigations are ongoing.

Malaysia's coast guard announced on Saturday that one of the two large oil tankers involved in a collision had left the accident site and turned off its tracking system. The tanker in question, Ceres I, flagged by Sao Tome and Principe, is now being tracked within Malaysian waters.

The incident occurred early Friday when Ceres I collided with the Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile about 55 km northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca. Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority confirmed that all 62 crew members from both vessels are accounted for, with some needing evacuation due to fires onboard.

Attempts to reach the Chinese owner of Ceres I for comment were unsuccessful. The Malaysian coast guard released a video showing the charred Hafnia Nile still afloat as of Saturday. Efforts to stabilize and manage the situation continue, with specialized firefighting tugs en route.

Hafnia, the operator of Hafnia Nile, stated on Friday that a tug is assisting the ship as it drifts towards open sea. Singapore, a major oil-trading hub and bunkering port, has nearby waters that are critical global trade routes. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has yet to issue an official response.

(With inputs from agencies.)