Oil Tankers on Fire after Colliding off Singapore, Crew Members Rescued

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 kilometres (34 miles) 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.
The environmental authorities in neighboring Malaysia said they had been informed to prepare for further action in case of oil spills.
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.