Singapore-registered LPG tanker in collision off Tuas; no injuries reported

SINGAPORE — A Singapore-registered Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker was involved in a collision with a Greece-registered tanker off the Tuas Extension early Tuesday morning (April 17), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.

In a media release sent late on Tuesday night, the MPA said the Singapore-registered vessel, Crystal Sunrise, was picking up her pilot near the designated western pilot boarding ground at about 2.30am when it collided with a westbound Greece-registered tanker, Astro Saturn.

The collision took place about one nautical mile south of Tuas Extension, in Singapore waters. 

"Following the collision, Crystal Sunrise sustained damage to her ballast tank... (and) the butane that (the) vessel was carrying had started to leak from one of the cargo tanks," said the MPA.

"The ship’s crew took the necessary measures and stopped the leak."

Astro Saturn sustained damages to her port anchor and bow. Both ships have been stablised, the MPA added.

No injuries were reported, but the collision saw an estimated 1,796MT of butane gas leaked from Crystal Sunrise.

"As liquefied butane has a high evaporation rate, MPA has assessed that any leaked butane would have been carried southward away from mainland Singapore, where most of it would have rapidly dissipated to below flammable levels within an hour and pose no risk to shipping," said the MPA.

As a precautionary measure, eight PSA Marine staff who were in the vicinity of the collision received medical check-ups at the National University Hospital. All of the crew have since been discharged.

MPA said it is investigating the incident.