July 22, 2024
KOTA TINGGI – The oil tanker that had gone missing after a collision with another tanker has been found some 28 nautical miles east of Pulau Tionam.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) search and rescue (SAR) and disaster relief division director First Admiral Zin Azman Md Yunus said the MT Ceres 1 tanker, registered under the Republic of São Tomé dan Príncipe, was found at about 1.20am on Sunday (June 21).
“We managed to detect and intercept the tanker, which was being towed by two tugboats when found.
“The two tugboats, which were believed to have moved the tanker from the site of the collision, were also seized,” he said in a press statement here.
He added that the MMEA and the Maritime Department will carry out further investigation into the incident.
“Meanwhile, checks via our Amphibia Bombardier CL 415MP aircraft found that there is a bit of oil spill around the area.
“The Environment Department was also informed of this finding and will conduct further observation,” he said.
On Saturday, the MMEA said MT Ceres 1 had left the site of the collision and that its automatic identification system (AIS) had been turned off.
“Further checks also found that there was some amiss about the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number of the vessel.
“The decision to leave the scene also raises suspicion. However, we will continue efforts to search for the tanker,” Zin Azman said on Saturday (July 20).
On Friday (July 20), the MMEA activated its search and rescue operation following the collision between MT Celes 1 and Singapore-registered vessel MT Hafnia Nile.
The collision at about 25 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung Balau caused the MT Hafnia Nile vessel to be caught on fire.