What Crew Members Say About Ceres-1

On July 2, 2025, a Singapore court charged two crew members of the maritime vessel 'Hafnia Nile', which is currently operating under the name 'Hafnia Shannon', in connection with a tragic collision involving the ship and 'Ceres 1' that occurred on July 19, 2024. The incident resulted in the death of one individual and left another seriously injured. The accused, Soosai Antony Vainer, 35, and Wickramage Viraj Amila Shavinda Perera, 40, a Sri Lankan national, were both on duty aboard the 'Hafnia Nile' at the time of the accident. Perera held the position of officer in charge of the navigational watch, while Vainer was designated as the duty lookout. It is alleged that Vainer, instead of alerting Perera to the approaching 'Ceres I', took unauthorized control of the vessel, failing to maintain a proper lookout. This misjudgment led to the unfortunate collision. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has initiated the legal proceedings against both men, who could face penalties of up to two years in prison, fines reaching SGD 50,000, or potentially both, if convicted.

The Ceres 1, a notable member of the VLCC fleet, has made its return to the trading scene after undergoing repairs from damages sustained in a collision with the Hafnia Nile on July 18. The vessel was one of ten oil tankers recently sanctioned by the United States, alongside 25 other entities and vessels, due to allegations of transporting illicit Iranian crude oil to international markets. This action suggests a potentially more severe approach towards Iran as early as next month. Following the collision, discrepancies in the Ceres 1's AIS data complicated communications with the Hafnia Nile, leading to its detention. Now, the Ceres 1 has been successfully repaired and is back in Chinese waters, ready to resume its operations. For further details, you can view the report including images here: https://gcaptain.com/tankers-hafnia-nile-and-ceres-1-anchored-in-malaysian-waters/

In an announcement following the Court's Order dated July 29, 2019, interested buyers are invited to place bids for the 'Lai Bao', currently detained in Singapore, through a private treaty. Bidders must submit their offers in Singapore Dollars, along with a deposit of 50,000 Singapore Dollars via a local cashier's order made payable to 'The Sheriff Of Singapore'. Interested parties should ensure their bids are enclosed in a sealed envelope labeled 'Tender for Lai Bao' and delivered to the Sheriff’s Office, Legal Registry, Level 2, 1 Supreme Court Lane, Singapore 178879, by 1500 hours on November 1, 2019. Any bids received without the requisite deposit will not be considered. Unsuccessful bidders will have their deposits returned. It's important to note that the vessel will be sold on an 'as is where is' basis, as per the Sheriff's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale. Additionally, the net value of the bunkers aboard the 'Lai Bao' is calculated at 58,024 Singapore Dollars, which is not included in the sale price and must be settled by the purchaser. This amount is fixed and non-negotiable.