Malaysia intercepts Ceres I under tow after collision off Singapore

Malaysian authorities intercepted the VLCC Ceres I at 01:20 local time on 21 July, 28 nautical miles north-east of Tioman Island, while it was being towed by two tugboats, Seatrade Maritime News reports. The Sao Tome and Principe-registered tanker had gone missing after colliding with the product tanker Hafnia Nile off Singapore on 19 July. The Malaysia Coast Guard arrested the two tugs, and Maritim Malaysia and the Malaysian Marine Department opened investigations. Seatrade cites Reuters as identifying Ceres I as part of the sanctions-busting dark fleet that carried Iranian crude in March and April 2024. China's Shanghai Prosperity Management has owned and managed the ship since 2019, it says.

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