19-7-2024 (SINGAPORE) A maritime emergency unfolded approximately 55 kilometres north-east of Pedra Branca, as two tankers caught fire following a collision. The incident, which occurred within Singapore’s Maritime Search and Rescue Region, prompted a swift and coordinated rescue operation.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported that 36 crew members from the two vessels were safely evacuated. The Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile, carrying 22 crew members, saw all personnel rescued. Meanwhile, the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged tanker Ceres I, with a crew of 40, had 14 members evacuated while 26 remained on board to combat the blaze.
The Republic of Singapore Navy ship RSS Supreme, fortuitously in the vicinity, played a crucial role in the rescue effort. It retrieved 16 crew members from the Hafnia Nile, while a Malaysian government vessel picked up the remaining six from a lifeboat. These six were subsequently transferred to the RSS Supreme.
A spokesperson for Hafnia, the operator of Hafnia Nile, confirmed that the fire resulted from a collision between the two tankers. “Two seafarers have suffered minor injuries, while the remaining 20 crew members are understood to be in good condition,” the spokesperson stated, adding that families of the crew have been kept informed of developments.
In a display of maritime solidarity, the Singapore-flagged supply vessel Dolphin 1, which was nearby, assisted in rescuing 14 crew members from the Ceres I. Two of these individuals required immediate medical attention and were airlifted to Singapore General Hospital by a Republic of Singapore Air Force helicopter.
The MPA has confirmed that none of the crew members from either ship are Singaporean nationals. They also reported that navigational traffic remains unaffected by the incident, and reassuringly, there have been no reports of oil spillage thus far.
Both vessel owners have arranged for salvage and firefighting assets to support ongoing efforts to extinguish the blaze and subsequently tow the vessels to safety. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks in maritime operations and the importance of robust emergency response protocols.
The Hafnia Nile, an oil products tanker, had departed from Huelva, Spain, on 10 June and was en route to the Japanese port of Kashima, with an expected arrival date of 27 July. The Ceres I, a crude oil tanker, had been scheduled to dock in Singapore on 11 July.
