Tanker Collision Near Singapore Leads to Malaysian Waters Investigation

A tanker collision near Singapore led to the interception of the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged supertanker Ceres I by Malaysian authorities. The incident involved the Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile and resulted in minor oil spill traces. Both vessels are under investigation while authorities monitor environmental impacts.

A tanker that was involved in a collision near Singapore last week entered Malaysia's Bertam floating oil terminal area on Monday, following its interception by local authorities on Sunday. Shipping data from LSEG and Kpler confirmed this development.

The Sao Tome and Principe-flagged supertanker Ceres I left the collision site with the Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile on Friday. The Ceres I was found in Malaysian waters accompanied by two tugboats towing it, according to a coast guard statement issued on Sunday.

The coast guard has detained the Ceres I and the tugboats for further investigation. The Bertam FPSO terminal, located in the South China Sea off Peninsular Malaysia's east coast, is where the Ceres I is currently situated. The tanker, a very large crude carrier, is capable of carrying approximately 2 million barrels of oil. LSEG data indicate that the Ceres I is currently empty.

The Ceres I, managed by Shanghai Prosperity Ship Management, has previously loaded crude and fuel oil from Iran and Venezuela over several years, according to Kpler data. The tanker manager was not immediately available for comment. Separately, Hafnia, which manages the Hafnia Nile, stated over the weekend that negotiations were ongoing with Malaysian authorities to safely relocate the vessel.

The Hafnia Nile, carrying around 300,000 barrels of naphtha destined for Japan, is monitored by ship-tracking data from Kpler and LSEG. Naphtha is a key raw material for petrochemicals. Singapore remains Asia's largest oil-trading hub and the busiest global bunkering port, with surrounding waters among the world's most trafficked sea lanes.

Malaysia's coast guard indicated on Sunday that aerial surveys had detected minor oil spill traces at the collision site, located 55 km northeast of Singapore's Pedra Branca. The environment department has been notified and will conduct additional monitoring.

(With inputs from agencies.)