Malaysia tracks down missing oil tanker that fled after collision
Malaysia reports intercepting a large oil tanker involved in a collision with another vessel before fleeing and disabling its tracking system.
The coastguard has located and detained Ceres I, which was sailing under the flag of São Tomé and Príncipe, along with two tugboats that were towing it off Malaysia’s eastern coast.
The collision occurred on Friday with the Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile, resulting in fires on both ships.
Singaporean officials confirmed that all crew members from both vessels were rescued.
Malaysia’s coastguard noted that Ceres I departed the scene immediately after the collision, which resulted in a fire and injuries to at least two crew members.
The incident took place approximately 55 km northeast of Pedra Branca, an island belonging to Singapore, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Zin Azman Mohamad Yunus, head of Malaysia’s coast guard search and rescue team, has not yet explained why the São Tomé and Príncipe-flagged tanker attempted to flee but stated that further investigations will be conducted.
Following the rescue of around 40 crew members from the burning ships, about 26 stayed aboard the Ceres I to help extinguish the fire.
The Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile, was reportedly carrying naphtha, a highly flammable type of petroleum.
The cause of the collision is still unclear. Singapore maritime authorities said ship traffic in the busy waterway was unaffected.
However, Malaysian coastguard officials found an oil spill covering around 17 square kilometres.
Ceres I is a large crude oil carrying supertanker. Some reports suggests it could be part of a so-called ‘dark fleet’, carrying oil from countries under sanctions.
A market intelligence service, S&P Global Commodities at Sea, says the ship, operated by China’s Shanghai Prosperity Ship Management, has previously carried Iranian crude, which is subject to US sanctions.
