'No oil spill' after tanker caught fire: MPA

Shipowners calling in Singapore reminded to be liable for oil pollution damage.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported no indication of an oil spill in the vicinity where the Gabon-registered tanker, MT Pablo, caught fire in waters off the southern coast on 1 May.

Several ships rescued the tanker's 25 crew members from the blazing tanker in the South China Sea, about 40 nautical miles off Pulau Tinggi, Malaysia, but three others were still missing.

None of the missing crew members are Singapore citizens.

"Since the report of the incident, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Singapore requested assistance from a total of 119 vessels in the vicinity of MT PABLO, covering approximately 1000 square km, to keep a good lookout and report any sighting of the three missing crew members. There is no disruption to vessel traffic in the area," MPA said.

However, MPA stated that the country would not be involved in the investigations behind why the tanker caught fire as MT Pablo was not flagged with Singapore and was not in its waters.

MPA reminded all owners and operators of vessels calling at Singapore "to comply with requirements under the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage and the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage to carry valid certificates attesting that insurance or other financial security is in force in respect of civil liability for oil pollution damage or bunker oil pollution damage."