Singapore maritime authorities had the Panama-registered bulk carrier First Margaux towed to Raffles Reserved Anchorage for inspection following its September 17 collision with Lu Qing Yuan Yu, a China-registered fishing boat, in the Singapore Strait.
“Essential crew remained onboard to support the tow, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force supported the transfer of other crew to shore,” the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore said.
The port authority also sent out navigational safety broadcasts to steer other ships away from the tow and assigned one of its own craft to accompany the bulk carrier into port.
“There were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel or pollution arising from the incident. Navigational traffic was not affected,” the MPA said.
About 40 Filipino seafarers were on board the First Margaux, and Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said none of them were hurt.
Cacdac’s agency has been in touch with the seafarers’ families and is prepared to extend help to any of them who need it.
The Department of Migrant Workers is still waiting for a fuller account from the ship’s manning agency.
