The officer from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), who had left for the Port of Fujairah on 16 June 2001, has met with the rescued crew members of the Singapore-registered Heng San. The ship manager, Ocean Tankers, had arranged for medical checks to be done for the crew and there have been no injuries reported. The general welfare of the crew has also been taken care of. Arrangements are being made to repatriate the crew back to their home countries.

Ocean Tankers informed that the bow section of Heng San had not sunk and had drifted to Latitude 14 degrees 50 minutes North and Longitude 72 degrees 38 minutes East, which is about 80 nautical miles (148 km) off the west coast of India. A tugboat engaged by Ocean Tankers is at the scene to warn off passing vessels from the floating bow section. The Indian Coast Guard has also been informed and is sending navigational warning broadcasts to passing vessels. The ship manager is working closely with its P & I Club, the salvage operators and the Indian authorities on the removal of the floating wreckage.

MT Heng San (122,270 gross tons), a very large crude carrier in ballast condition, was heading to the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Sea on 11 June 2001 when it caught fire, exploded and subsequently sank. 38 uninjured crew members were rescued from the ship and the search for the four missing crew continues.

The MPA's investigation is in progress.

End of Release.