Halim Ahmed, the director-general of the marine department, said that MT Ceres 1 drifted away from the collision scene after its anchor chain broke loose.

“They did not switch off their location. Their communication equipment was affected (in the collision),” he told a press conference.

“The coast guard did lose sight of Ceres 1, but when we found them they actually had drifted away with two tugboats towing it.”

Halim said that MT Hafnia Nile, a Singapore-flagged tanker with 22 crew members, failed to avoid the anchored Ceres 1, a Sao Tome and Príncipe-flagged tanker carrying 26 crew members, resulting in a collision.

“As a result of the contact, both vessels caught fire, and the anchor chain of Ceres 1 on the starboard side was cut off, causing it to drift,” he said.

On July 19, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency launched a search and rescue operation after two tankers, Hafnia Nile and Ceres 1, collided about 25 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung Balau, Johor.

Two days later, Reuters reported that Ceres 1 had been found eight nautical miles northeast of Pulau Tioman, being towed by two tugboats. It was suspected that the oil tanker had turned off its tracking system and was being aided in its escape.

Halim also confirmed that the two tankers are now docked near each other in Tanjung Sedili near Kota Tinggi, Johor, with damage estimates yet to be made.

He added that the crew members of Hafnia Nile have returned to Singapore, and marine department officials are collaborating with their counterparts to investigate the incident.

Straits Salvage Engineers (M) Sdn Bhd has been appointed to salvage Hafnia Nile, but negotiations are ongoing with the owner of Ceres 1 and a salvor has yet to be appointed.

Halim also said that the initial investigation found no evidence of an oil spill, only an “oil sheen” coming from Hafnia Nile’s bunker tank.

“The salvor had placed an oil boom around Hafnia Nile to control the situation. No oil spill from Ceres 1 was reported.”