At about 2.30 am on 17th April, 2018, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) received a report of a collision. At the time of the incident, ‘Crystal Sunrise’ was picking up a pilot near the designated western pilot boarding ground about one nautical mile south of Tuas Extension, in Singapore territorial waters.
As a result of the collision, the LPG carrier sustained damage to her ballast tank. The Master also reported that the butane cargo had started to leak from one of the cargo tanks. The ship’s crew took the necessary measures and stopped the leak.
‘Astro Saturn’ sustained damages to her port anchor and bow. Both vessels were stabilised.
An estimated 1,796 tonnes of butane gas leaked. As liquefied butane has a high evaporation rate, MPA assessed that any leaked butane would have been carried southward away from mainland Singapore, where most of it would have rapidly dissipated to below flammable levels within an hour and pose no risk to shipping.
The two tankers reported no injuries to their crew. The MPA said it was investigating the incident.