The refined products tanker “Hafnia Nile” flies the flag of Singapore… and the oil tanker “Ceres I” flies the flag of Sao Tome and Principe.
Two large oil tankers have collided and caught fire off Singapore’s coast, the UN’s shipping agency has said.
“Salvage and firefighting assets have been arranged by both vessel owners to support the firefighting efforts and subsequent towage of the vessels to safety,” a spokesperson with the International Maritime Organization said.
“Navigational traffic is not affected.
“The status of the vessels and any pollution is currently unknown at this time.”
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 navy said it recused two casualties – both crew members – and airlifted them to Singapore General Hospital for “urgent medical care”, it said in an Instagram post.
The 22 crew
The tankers – Singapore-flagged Hafni Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged tanker Ceres I – were around 34 miles (55km) 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 22 crew of the Hafnia Nile and the 40 on the Ceres were all accounted for, the MPA said, which was alerted to the fire at 6.15am local time on Friday (10.15pm on Thursday British time).
Crew members on board the two tankers that caught fire “within Singapore’s maritime search and rescue region” have been accounted for following search and rescue operations.
Towage of the vessels to safety
The environmental authorities in neighbouring Malaysia said they had been told to prepare for potential oil spills.
Two large oil tankers have collided and caught fire off Singapore’s coast, the UN’s shipping agency has said.
“Salvage and firefighting assets have been arranged by both vessel owners to support the firefighting efforts and subsequent towage of the vessels to safety,” a spokesperson with the International Maritime Organization said.
Black smoke billowing
“The status of the vessels and any pollution is currently unknown at this time.”
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 navy said it recused two casualties – both crew members – and airlifted them to Singapore General Hospital for “urgent medical care”, it said in an Instagram post.
Singapore Straits
The tankers – Singapore-flagged Hafni Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged tanker Ceres I – were around 34 miles (55km) 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 22 crew of the Hafnia Nile and the 40 on the Ceres were all accounted for, the MPA said, which was alerted to the fire at 6.15am local time on Friday (10.15pm on Thursday British time).
Potential oil spills
The environmental authorities in neighbouring Malaysia said they had been told to prepare for potential oil spills.
The Ceres I is a very large crude carrier supertanker, which ship-tracking data last showed was carrying around two million barrels of Iranian crude oil.
The US has tried to curtail the Iranian oil trade, including imposing sanctions on ports, vessels and refineries.
Singapore is Asia’s biggest oil trading hub and the world’s largest refuelling port
Iranian crude oil
Its surrounding waters are vital trade waterways between Asia and Europe and the Middle East and among the busiest global sea lanes.
The Ceres I is a very large crude carrier supertanker, which ship-tracking data last showed was carrying around two million barrels of Iranian crude oil.
The US has tried to curtail the Iranian oil trade, including imposing sanctions on ports, vessels and refineries.Singapore is Asia’s biggest oil trading hub and the world’s largest refuelling port.
Its surrounding waters are vital trade waterways between Asia and Europe and the Middle East and among the busiest global sea lanes.
It is noteworthy that Oil Products Tanker HAFNIA NILE is currently located in the Riau Archipelago (reported 17 hours, 29 minutes ago)
HAFNIA NILE (IMO: 9766217) is a Oil Products Tanker and is sailing under the flag of Singapore. Her length overall (LOA) is 228 meters and her width is 32 meter
While the Crude Oil Tanker CERES I is currently located in the Riau Archipelago (reported 15 hours, 31 minutes ago)
CERES I (IMO: 9229439) is a Crude Oil Tanker and is sailing under the flag of Sao Tome Principe. Her length overall (LOA) is 329.95 meters and her width is 60 meters.
Sources : agencies
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