KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Reuters) – Two massive oil tankers that collided and caught fireplace close to Singapore earlier this month are afloat and anchored in Malaysian waters, with an investigation into the incident ongoing, Malaysia’s marine division stated on Tuesday.
The Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome- and Principe-flagged Ceres I collided and caught fireplace about 55 km (35 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca early on July 19.
The Hafnia Nile, a Panamax tanker, was carrying about 300,000 barrels of naphtha destined for Japan, based on ship-tracking information from Kpler and LSEG. Naphtha is a uncooked materials for making petrochemicals.
“The Hafnia Nile is hazardous as it’s nonetheless carrying its naphtha cargo,” Mohamad Halim Ahmed, Director Basic of Malaysia’s Marine Division, advised a press convention, including the tanker was severely burnt and its superstructure was compromised however its cargo intact.
“Our precedence is to make sure it stays afloat and might be moved safely.”
Mohamad Halim stated preliminary investigations discovered that the Ceres I used to be anchored earlier than the collision resulting from technical points. The Hafnia Nile’s makes an attempt to keep away from the Ceres I failed, ensuing within the collision, he stated.
Malaysia’s coast guard initially stated the Ceres I, a really massive crude provider (VLCC) supertanker, had fled the placement of the incident and was believed to have turned off its monitoring system.
Nevertheless, Mohamad Halim stated the Ceres I drifted away from the placement of the collision as its anchor was broken, earlier than it was situated and detained by Malaysia’s coast guard.
He stated there was no oil spill detected on the location of the collision, solely an oil sheen believed to be from harm to the Hafnia Nile’s bunker tank.
Mohamad Halim stated his division was in touch with Singaporean authorities and the proprietor of the Ceres I to maneuver each vessels to a protected location.
As soon as each vessels have been moved out of open waters to a port, the Malaysian authorities would then resolve on the following steps of the investigation, he stated.
(Reporting by Danial Azhar; Enhancing by John Mair and Shri Navaratnam)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.
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