30-7-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian maritime officials have provided a new account of the events surrounding the collision between two oil tankers off the coast of Pedra Branca, contradicting earlier reports of a vessel fleeing the scene. The incident, which occurred on 19 July, involved the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged Ceres I and the Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Captain Mohamad Halim Ahmed, Director General of Malaysia’s Marine Department, offered a revised narrative of the incident. According to Capt Halim, the Ceres I did not flee the collision site as previously reported, but rather drifted away due to a severed anchor chain.
“As a result of the contact, both vessels caught fire and the anchor chain of the vessel Ceres I on the starboard side was cut off, subsequently causing the vessel Ceres I to drift,” Capt Halim explained. This account stands in stark contrast to earlier statements from the Malaysian coast guard, which had suggested that the Ceres I had illegally departed the collision site and deactivated its tracking system.
The Ceres I was eventually located approximately 20 nautical miles from the collision site, in proximity to Pulau Tioman, a popular holiday destination off the Pahang coast. Capt Halim dismissed speculation about deliberate evasion, stating, “It didn’t try to run away but had communication and navigational issues.”
Preliminary investigations indicate that the Ceres I, carrying 26 crew members, was anchored due to technical difficulties when the collision occurred. The Hafnia Nile, travelling at 14.2 knots, was reportedly unable to avoid the stationary vessel. Capt Halim likened the incident to a car collision where one vehicle was stationary and the other moving, though he refrained from disclosing further details pending a full investigation.
The Hafnia Nile, a substantial tanker measuring 228 metres in length and 32 metres in width, was transporting up to 60,000 metric tonnes of naphtha, a highly flammable substance used in petrochemical production. It was en route to Kashima, Japan, while the Ceres I, classified as a very large crude carrier (VLCC), was travelling without cargo to Langshan, China.
In the aftermath of the collision, maritime analysts had raised concerns about the Ceres I’s history, labelling it a “serial spoofer” – a term referring to vessels that intentionally manipulate their Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to conceal their true location. Additionally, allegations surfaced regarding the Ceres I’s involvement in transporting sanctioned Iranian crude oil.
When questioned about these allegations, Capt Halim emphasised that the current priority is addressing the immediate aftermath of the incident and ensuring the safety of both vessels. “We haven’t come to that stage. The priority is to keep the vessels afloat, especially the Hafnia Nile,” he stated, noting ongoing collaboration with Singaporean authorities.
Initial assessments have detected no significant oil spill, with only a minor oil sheen suspected to have originated from the Hafnia Nile. Preventative measures, including the deployment of an oil boom around the Hafnia Nile, have been implemented to control any potential environmental impact.
All 22 crew members of the Hafnia Nile were successfully rescued by the Republic of Singapore Navy’s RSS Supreme, while the Ceres I’s crew remains on board their vessel.
