Malaysian Coast Guard intercepts dark fleet tanker CERES I after a severe collision, revealing suspicious activities and dubious registration.
On the night of July 20, the Malaysian Coast Guard patrol vessel PEKAN detected and intercepted the tanker CERES I, roughly thirty nautical miles northeast of Tioman Island. The CERES I, sailing under the flag of São Tomé and Príncipe, was being towed northward towards Vietnam by a tugboat flying the Singaporean flag. Identified by Lloyd’s List Intelligence as part of the “dark fleet,” the CERES I had experienced a fire following a collision with the Singapore-flagged tanker HAFNIA NILE on July 19.
The day after the incident, the Malaysian Coast Guard dispatched two patrol boats and an aircraft to search for the CERES I, which was not transmitting AIS signals and could not be located at the accident scene. AIS data from various vessels indicated that CERES I might have been taken in tow on the evening of July 19, approximately twenty nautical miles north of the collision site.
At dawn on July 22, all involved vessels turned back 100 nautical miles north-northeast of Tioman Island, heading towards the Singapore anchorage area. According to analyses by the Johor Baru Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) and the Malaysian Maritime Authority, the registration of the vessel appeared dubious. A chemical tanker with the same name, operating under the Panamanian flag between Vietnam and China, exists, raising further suspicions about CERES I’s movements after leaving the accident area. Lloyd’s List Intelligence also reported that the CERES I had undertaken three voyages involving suspicious ship-to-ship transfers and was known for AIS deactivations and identity spoofing.
During the fire incident, the Singapore-flagged supply vessel DOLPHIN 1, responding to distress messages and a call from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, rescued 14 crew members from CERES I shortly after the fire began. Two crew members were evacuated by a Singaporean Air Force helicopter to a hospital for further treatment, while 26 others remained on board to continue firefighting efforts. The crew of HAFNIA NILE abandoned their vessel and were rescued by a Singaporean frigate.
