Prosecutors have filed charges that could carry jail terms and heavy fines
A catastrophic collision between two tankers in the South China Sea that killed one person and injured several others was caused by crew fatigue, inadequate bridge manning, and safety system failures, according to an investigation by Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau.
The Singapore-registered oil and chemical tanker Hafnia Nile struck the anchored tanker Ceres I on July 19, 2024, whilst travelling at 14 knots in waters east of Malaysia. The fully laden vessel collided with the empty, anchored tanker at about 6:02am local time, causing major fires on both ships and severe structural damage.
The investigation, completed in December, found the Hafnia Nile’s second mate had received only two hours of rest during the 38.5 hours before the incident. The officer had travelled overnight from Colombo, Sri Lanka, transiting through Kuala Lumpur before joining the ship in Singapore at noon. Upon boarding, he immediately began duties and took part in port activities whilst the vessel was at anchor.
“HN-2M was likely tired from overnight travel, the workload upon joining, and disrupted rest prior to assuming the midnight watch,” the report read.
The second mate later left the wheelhouse to prepare two reports in the chartroom, which was separated from the bridge by a curtain, leaving an able seafarer alone at the controls. Investigators concluded the paperwork was not time-critical and could have been completed the following day.
Critical safety equipment had also been compromised. The vessel’s S-band radar alarms had been silenced and the X-band radar alarms were deactivated, removing key safeguards for early collision detection.
The anchored Ceres I crew detected the approaching Hafnia Nile at 6.4 nautical miles but initially assessed the risk as low. Whilst the crew used sound signals and an Aldis lamp to warn the approaching vessel, they never attempted VHF radio communication as the situation worsened.
The Hafnia Nile’s bow struck Ceres I’s port anchor chain, which became entangled with the port bilge keel, drawing the vessels together, a report from The Maritime Executive noted. The collision breached the Hafnia Nile’s shell plating near fuel and cargo tanks containing naphtha, igniting fires on both ships. Two shore workers aboard Ceres I suffered serious burn injuries, with one later dying in hospital.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority has filed criminal charges against the second mate and the able seafarer under the Merchant Shipping Act. If convicted, each faces up to two years’ imprisonment and fines of about $39,000.
Both vessel operators have since updated their safety management systems, with Hafnia strengthening bridge watchkeeping practices and fatigue management protocols.
