Malaysia coast guard says tanker involved in fire has left site (updated)

Hafnia

20/07/2024 11:23

(Recasts, adds details, background throughout; changes media
slug; previous was SINGAPORE-SHIPPING/FIRE-MALAYSIA)
    By Danial Azhar
       KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 (Reuters) - Malaysia's coast guard
said on Saturday that one of the two large oil tankers involved
in a collision that led to fires on both had left the location
of the accident and was believed to have turned off its tracking
system.
    The coast guard said it was tracking the whereabouts of the
Sao Tome and Principe-flagged tanker Ceres I, which was
suspected to be within Malaysian waters.
    The Ceres I was involved in a collision reported early on
Friday with the Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile about 55 km
(35 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca,
the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on
Friday. 
    The 22 crew of the Hafnia Nile and the 40 on the Ceres I
were all accounted for, the MPA had said, adding that 14 crew
from Ceres I were evacuated by a Singapore Air Force helicopter
while 26 of its crew were conducting fire-fighting operations
onboard.  
    The Chinese owner of the Ceres I could not be reached for
comment on Friday and Saturday.
    A video posted by the Malaysian coast guard showed the
charred Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile afloat in a video
the coast guard said was taken on Saturday.
    Hafnia, the operator of Hafnia Nile, said on Friday a tug
was on scene to assist the ship, which was drifting toward open
sea, with specialised tugs en route to join firefighting
efforts.
    Singapore is Asia's biggest oil-trading hub and the world's
largest bunkering port. Its surrounding waters are vital trade
waterways between Asia and Europe and the Middle East and among
the busiest global sea lanes.
    Singapore's MPA did not immediately respond to a request for
comment on Saturday.
    

 (Reporting by Danial Azhar in Kuala Lumpur; Writing by Tony
Munroe; Editing by William Mallard)
 ((danial.azhar@thomsonreuters.com;))