Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Oil Tankers on Fire after Colliding Off Singapore *Crew Members Rescued

POSTED ON July 19, 2024 •   World      BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara
photo taken and released by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on July 19, 2024 shows the Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile on fire in Tanjung Sedili, near Singapore. (Photo by Handout / Malaysian Maritime Enforcement A / AFP)

Two large oil tankers were on fire on Friday after colliding in waters near Singapore, the world's biggest refueling port, with two crew members airlifted to hospital and others rescued from life rafts, authorities and one of the companies said.

The Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged tanker Ceres I were about 55 km northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca on the eastern approach to the Singapore Straits, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.

The owner of the Hafnia Nile said the vessel was involved in a collision with the Ceres I.

The 22 crew of the Hafnia Nile and the 40 on the Ceres I were all accounted for, said the MPA, which was alerted to the fire at 6:15 a.m. (2215 GMT)

Photographs released by the Singapore Navy showed thick black smoke billowing from one tanker and crew being rescued from life rafts and flown to hospital, Reuters reported.

The environmental authorities in neighboring Malaysia said they had been informed to prepare for further action in case of oil spills.
The 74,000 deadweight-tons capacity Panamax tanker Hafnia Nile (IMO 9766217) was carrying about 300,000 barrels of naphtha, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler and LSEG.

It was not immediately clear what fuel Ceres I (IMO 9229439) was carrying. The tanker is a very-large-crude-carrier (VLCC) of 300,000 deadweight-tons capacity and was last marked as carrying Iranian crude between March and April, ship-tracking data showed.

Before the fire, the Ceres I had been at the same location since July 11, according to LSEG shipping data.

The area is known to be used by so-called dark fleet ships for the transfer of Iranian oil in contravention of US sanctions, said Michelle Wiese Bockmann, principal analyst at Lloyd's List Intelligence.

"The Ceres I has repeatedly been involved in transferring or shipping Iranian oil in breach of US sanctions," she said.
Shipping sources have said the tanker was also involved in transporting Venezuelan oil to China in recent years.

The China-based owner of the Ceres I could not immediately be reached for comment. China has repeatedly said it opposes unilateral sanctions.

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.

READ ALSO
China to Advocate for African Rights on Global Stage
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 31, 2025 0

The Chinese Counselor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shen Sha, has reiterated China's strong de...

READ ALSO
China-Africa Institute to Launch First Museum in China Celebrating African History and Culture
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 31, 2025 0

The China-Africa Institute, part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has unveiled plans to cr...

READ ALSO
Botswana's Speaker Lauds China's Commitment to African Development
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 31, 2025 0

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana, Dithapelo Keorapetse, has praised China for its de...

READ ALSO
Tinubu Commits to Collaborative Efforts with AfDB's New Leadership, Congratulate Sidi Tah
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 30, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has praised the election of Sidi Tah as the ninth president of the African Dev...

READ ALSO
ECOWAS Leaders Stress Collective Responsibility in Combating Drug Abuse
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 28, 2025 0

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged its member countries to collaborate...

READ ALSO
French Parliament Passes Bill Assisting Patients To Die
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 28, 2025 0

The French parliament has voted to grant individuals in the final stages of terminal illness the opt...

READ ALSO
Visa 'Extraction Scheme': Africans Lose Over €60M Annually to Denied Western Visas, Sparking Outcry and Reform Demands
BY Suleiman Jimoh May 28, 2025 0

The Brief•    Africa lost over €56 million in non-refundable Schengen visa fees...

READ ALSO
Russian Airstrikes Claim 12 Lives Amid Ongoing Prisoner Swap
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 25, 2025 0

Russian airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 12 individuals in Ukraine overnight into Sunda...

OUR CHANNELS:

China to Advocate for African Rights on Global Stage
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 31, 2025 0

The Chinese Counselor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shen Sha, has reiterated China's strong de...


China-Africa Institute to Launch First Museum in China Celebrating African History and Culture
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 31, 2025 0

The China-Africa Institute, part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has unveiled plans to cr...


Botswana's Speaker Lauds China's Commitment to African Development
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 31, 2025 0

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana, Dithapelo Keorapetse, has praised China for its de...


WHO Calls for Immediate Ban on Flavored Tobacco Products to Protect Youth
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 31, 2025 0

The World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled a new publication on Friday, urging governments to swif...


WHO Unveils New Vaccination Strategies to Protect Infants from RSV
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 31, 2025 0

The World Health Organization announced on Friday its recommendations for two new vaccination option...


Federal Ministry Unveils Digital Village to Bridge Digital Divide in Abuja Community
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 30, 2025 0

The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has launched a Digital Villag...


Niger Flood Claims 21 Lives, Amid Ongoing Rescue Efforts As Local Officials Report 60+ Fatalities
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 30, 2025 0

MINNA, Nigeria - At least 21 individuals, including children and adults, have been confirmed dead, w...


NGO Calls for Tax Elimination on Sanitary Pads to Promote Menstrual Hygiene
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 30, 2025 0

A non-governmental organization (NGO), FAB Treasure Foundation, urged the federal government on Thur...


Tinubu Commits to Collaborative Efforts with AfDB's New Leadership, Congratulate Sidi Tah
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 30, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has praised the election of Sidi Tah as the ninth president of the African Dev...


Tinubu Champions Sports as Catalyst for Economic Growth at National Sports Festival
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 30, 2025 0

OGUN, Nigeria - President Bola Tinubu has urged governments at all levels to utilize sports as a mea...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu