Details are still unclear as to the cause of the explosion on the tanker that blew part of the vessel’s top deck into the water
Malaysia’s maritime directorate in the state of Johor has reportedly called off search and rescue efforts for three crew members who have been missing since a fire and explosion on board a tanker again thrust questions about the safety consequences of increased use of a so-called dark fleet of tankers into the spotlight.
Local news outlets in Malaysia quoted Johor maritime director, First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria, as putting search and rescue efforts on hold on 6 May until "new clues are found".
"Based on the results of the search and safety assessment of the ship, the Johor Bahru Maritime Rescue Sub Center has suspended this operation," he said.
3 May
A fire started by an explosion on an Aframax tanker in the outer anchorage of Singapore has now been extinguished, while search and rescue efforts continue for three missing crew from the vessel.
On 1 May 2023, around 16:00 local time, an explosion ripped the deck and tank ceilings off the 1997-built, 96,800 dwt Aframax tanker Pablo, which had arrived at the outer anchorage of Singapore in ballast 30 April 2023 from China.
Malaysia Coast Guard authorities posted an update to their Facebook page yesterday (2 May), along with photos of the burned out vessel.
"A search mission for the three crew members of the ship who are still missing [is being] carried out by a search and rescue (SAR) team co-ordinated by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Acency (Maritime Malaysia)," the post said.
One Ukrainian and two Indian seafarers are reported missing, and presumed dead after the explosion on board.
Maritime Malaysia said they are "intensifying efforts to find and rescue three more victims who have yet to be found," noting the search area has been extended to more than 70 square nautical miles from the scene of the explosion.
Deputy director general (logistics) who is also the acting director general of Maritime Malaysia, Maritime vice admiral Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim said 25 crew members of Pablo were successfully rescued, according to the Facebook post.
Of the total, four crew members suffered serious injuries to their hands, waist and legs. All of them were taken to Kota Tinggi Hospital for treatment.
The vessel’s Ukrainian master told local media outlet the New Straits Times the explosion and fire disrupted the communications equipment and the deployment of the lifeboats. The captain said he saw crew jumping into the sea but couldn’t keep a head count.
Maritime Malaysia reported the remaining crew have been taken off the tanker by MMEA and other vessels.
According to both Maritime Malaysia and a Reuters report, Pablo is a Gabon-registered vessel, but other shipping databases have the vessel registered to a company in the Marshall Islands corporate register.
Maritime Malaysia said the tanker was on its way from China to Singapore when it caught fire.
Pablo was sold to an undisclosed buyer in February 2023 and the beneficial owner remains unknown.
Media reports point toward the vessel being part of the dark fleet of tankers which play an important role in shipping sanctioned and non-aligned crude oil and products.
Sign up for Riviera’s series of technical and operational webinars and conferences in 2023:
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.