Fire and Collision Near Singapore: Oil Tankers Ablaze

Two large oil tankers, Hafnia Nile and Ceres I, collided in the waters near Singapore, leading to a massive fire. All crew members were rescued, and two were airlifted to the hospital. Authorities reported that emergency preparations were underway to manage potential oil spills.

Two large oil tankers were on fire on Friday after colliding in waters near Singapore, the world's biggest refuelling port, with two crew members airlifted to hospital and others rescued from life rafts, authorities and one of the companies said. The Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged tanker Ceres I were about 55 km (34 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca on the eastern approach to the Singapore Straits, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.

The owner of the Hafnia Nile said the vessel was involved in a collision with the Ceres I. The 22 crew of the Hafnia Nile and the 40 on the Ceres I were all accounted for, said the MPA, which was alerted to the fire at 6:15 a.m. (2215 GMT).

Photographs released by the Singapore Navy showed thick black smoke billowing from one tanker and crew being rescued from life rafts and flown to hospital. The environmental authorities in neighbouring Malaysia said they had been informed to prepare for further action in case of oil spills.