On 20 July the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Formidable class frigate RSS Supreme responded to a distress call from two merchant vessels. They were the Singapore-flagged oil tanker Hafnia Nile, and the Panamian-flagged chemical/oil tanker Ceres 1 which collided about 55km northeast of Pedra Branca, within Singapore’s Maritime Search and Rescue Region.
Pedra Branca is an outlying island and the easternmost point of Singapore.
Hafnia Nile was fully laden and bound for Kashima in Japan, whilst the Ceres 1 was bound for Lanshan Anch in China. The Supreme provided initial medical assistance and a RSAF helicopter airlifted two rescued Hafnia Nile crew members from one of the ships to Singapore General Hospital. The RSN worked closely with Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore – MPA and The Republic of Singapore Air Force.
