62 Seafarers’ Injured , As Two Vessels With Crude Collide In South China Sea

A total of 62 seafarers from a Hafnia product tanker and VLCC ablaze in the South China Sea have been either rescued or accounted for.

The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it was alerted to a fire onboard both the Singapore-flagged, product tanker Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged Ceres 1 at around 06:15 hrs SGT on 19 July 2024 northeast of Pedra Branca.

The two vessels were reported to have been involved in a collision leading to fire onboard both the Hafnia Nile and the Ceres 1.

There were 22 crew onboard the Hafnia Nile, while the Ceres 1 had a total of 40 seafarers.

The Republic of Singapore Navy ship, RSS Supreme, in the vicinity of the casualty provided picked up 16 crew from the Hafnia Nile, while six crew in a lifeboat from the tanker were picked up by a Malaysian government vessel. The MPA said the six picked up the Malaysian government vessel were later transferred to the RSS Supreme which is now enroute back to Singapore.

All 22 crew of the Hafnia Nile are receiving medical attention onboard the RSS Supreme.

Meanwhile a Singapore-flagged supply vessel Dolphin 1 picked up 14 crew from the Ceres 1. Two of the seafarers rescued by the supply vessel were airlifted by a Republic of Singapore Airforce helicopter to Singapore General Hospital where the being treated. The seriousness of injuries to rescued crew has not been disclosed.

The remaining 26 crew of the Ceres 1 have been accounted for and were involved in firefighting operations onboard the vessel according to the MPA.

The Hafnia Nile is operated by Singapore headquartered Hafnia, part of the BW Group and managed by BW Fleet Management which according Reuters was carrying a cargo naphtha. There are scant details available on the VLCC Ceres 1 which Reuters reported as last carrying Iranian crude between March to April