Malaysia chases oil tanker in collision off Singapore

Ceres I, a crude oil tanker flagged by the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, and Hafnia Nile, a refined products tanker flagged by Singapore, collided early Friday in one of the world’s busiest waterways, setting both vessels ablaze. Ceres I appears to have had its transponder turned off for more than a day, according to ship tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.

Singapore-flagged oil tanker Hafnia Nile catches fire in Tanjung Sedili, near Singapore. Photo: AFP

After being monitored by Malaysian authorities, the Ceres I was intercepted 28 nautical miles off Tioman Island at 1:20 a.m. Sunday while being towed by two tugboats, the coast guard said. All three vessels have been detained.

"Malaysia has successfully located and detained Ceres I along with two tugboats towing it" off the country's east coast, Zin Azman Mohamad Yunus, the coast guard's search and rescue chief, said in a statement.

An aerial survey detected some traces of oil spill.

On Friday, Singapore authorities said 36 crew members from both ships had been rescued, but 26 remained on the Ceres I to fight the fire.

The exact cause of Friday's collision remains unclear.

Cao Phong (according to SCMP, Bloomberg)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/luc-luong-bao-ve-bo-bien-malaysia-duoi-bat-tau-cho-dau-trong-vu-va-cham-o-singapore-post304362.html