Two crew members from the Singapore-registered oil tanker Hafnia Nile have been charged under Singapore’s Merchant Shipping Act following a deadly collision that left one person dead and another seriously injured, according to Singapore-based news outlet CNA.
The individuals charged are Soosai Antony Vainer, a 35-year-old Indian national, and Wickramage Viraj Amila Shavinda Perera, a 40-year-old Sri Lankan national. Court documents state that Perera was the officer in charge of the navigational watch at the time of the incident, which occurred on July 19, 2024.
The collision took place approximately 55 kilometers northeast of Pedra Branca island. Both vessels involved caught fire. The Hafnia Nile was transporting around 300,000 barrels of naphtha to Japan at the time.
According to charge sheets, Perera failed to properly assess navigational risks, maintain situational awareness, and ensure a proper lookout — actions that allegedly contributed to the tanker’s collision with the Ceres I, a vessel suspected to be part of Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet” operating in defiance of Western sanctions.
Vainer, who served as the duty lookout, allegedly noticed the Hafnia Nile nearing the Ceres I but failed to alert the officer in charge. He is also accused of steering the vessel without instruction and failing to maintain a proper lookout.
The crash caused serious damage to both ships and resulted in the death of a crew member aboard the Ceres I. Another crew member sustained severe injuries. The Ceres I was reportedly anchored due to technical issues when the collision occurred and was not carrying cargo at the time, although it had previously transported Iranian crude oil in breach of international sanctions.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority is prosecuting both men. Their cases were heard in the State Courts on July 2 and have been adjourned to a later date this month.
Malaysian maritime authorities reported no significant oil spill, though a minor oil sheen was observed, likely originating from damage to the Hafnia Nile’s bunker tank.
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