THE Malaysian Marine Department has detained Ceres I (IMO: 9229439) and Hafnia Nile (IMO: 9766217), the two vessels that collided in the eastern waters of Malaysia on July 19, for further investigation. 

Preliminary findings indicate that Hafnia Nile was in transit and attempted but failed to evade Ceres I, which anchored at latitude 1° 45.54’N and longitude 104° 39.43’E because of technical issues. The port side of Hafnia Nile collided with the starboard side bulbous bow of Ceres I, MMD said in a press conference held on Tuesday at a Malaysia Marine Week event.

As a result of the collision, both vessels caught fire and the anchor chain of Ceres I on the starboard side was cut, causing the VLCC to drift.

The eastern waters of Malaysia, where the collision took place, is a well-known area for storage and transfers of oil. 

“Damage to both vessels has not yet been estimated,” the MMD said.

The initial investigation showed that there was no oil spill detected, only an oil sheen suspected to be caused by Hafnia Nile’s bunker tank. Salvor placed an oil boom around the Singapore-flagged vessel to control the situation.

The owners of Hafnia Nile, through Resolve Salvage & Fire (Asia), have appointed Straits Salvage Engineers as salvor to carry out salvage work.

No oil spill from Ceres I was reported.

At the time of the collision, Ceres I, sailing in ballast, was en route to Lanshan, China, while Hafnia Nile was transporting naphtha on its journey to Kashima, Japan.

Ceres I dropped anchor at latitude 2° 01.183’N and longitude 104° 13.849’E and Hafnia Nile dropped anchor at latitude 1° 49.400’N and longitude 104° 26.240’E in the Tanjung Sedili waters.

MMD did not comment on the statement by the Malaysia Coast Guard on July 21 that Ceres I and two tugs were suspected of attempting to leave the scene.