VLCC and ultra-large containership collide in the Singapore Strait
A VLCC owned by Iran’s National Iranian Tanker Company and an MSC ultra-large containership collided in the Singapore Strait late on Wednesday night.
Ten empty containers fell overboard from MSC Alexandra (13,988 teu, built 2010) when it hit the tanker Dream 2 (320,000 dwt, built 2008) at around 2355hrs (local time) about 3 km south-east of Sebarok Island. Four containers fell on to the deck of Dream II and the rest into the water.
It is not yet clear how or why the collision occurred or who was at fault in the incident.
The VLCC sustained damage to its bow and the box ship sustained damage to its port quarter hull, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.
Both vessels are in stable condition and safely anchored in Singapore, and no injuries or oil pollution have been reported.
The MPA said it has issued a navigation broadcast to warn vessels of the presence of floating containers around the incident site. Survey and salvage teams have been deployed to recover the boxes.
