1.  The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) previously updated that the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) (1) Singapore received information from the master of tanker MS ENOLA on 1 May 2023 at around 1600 hrs that they had rescued 18 crew from a Gabon-registered tanker MT PABLO within the Singapore Maritime Search and Rescue Region (MSRR) in the South China Sea, about 40 nautical miles off Pulau Tinggi, Malaysia. Seven other crew were picked up by vessels in the vicinity, and as at 24 May 2023, three remain unaccounted for. There are no Singaporean crew onboard.

2.  As Singapore is a party to both the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR Convention), MPA is responsible for discharging Singapore’s obligations under the SOLAS and SAR Convention for the MSRR.

3.  Since the report of the incident, MRCC Singapore had requested assistance from a total of 119 vessels in the vicinity of MT PABLO covering approximately 1000 square km, to keep a good look out and report any sighting of the three missing crew members. There is no disruption to vessel traffic in the area.

4. There is no indication of oil spill in the vicinity of MT PABLO. Thus far, MPA has also not observed any oil spills in our waters and has requested for vessels to report any sighting of oil spills promptly.

5. As MT PABLO is not flagged with Singapore and is not in Singapore’s waters, Singapore is not involved in investigations.

6. MPA reminds all owners and operators of vessels calling at Singapore to comply with applicable 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.

(1) The Singapore’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), located at MPA’s Port Operations Control Centre (POCC), monitors the Maritime Search and Rescue Region (MSRR) assigned by the International Maritime Organization and provides assistance to persons in distress at sea, including medical evacuation. The MRCC is equipped with terrestrial and satellite-based systems such as a shore-based Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC), Navigational Telex (NAVTEX), Enhance Group Calling (EGC) and the COSPAS SARSAT system to monitor and respond to distress alerts and calls from vessels in the MSRR.