Transit of Singapore Strait

Transit of Singapore Strait
Report No. 200123

We were transiting the Singapore Straits in daylight. The weather was fine and clear with a calm sea and light winds. Own vessel was in ballast but not gas free. We had received a message to say that we were to divert to Singapore for bunkers. The vessel was proceeding on stand-by, at manoeuvring full ahead (12 knots) and was in hand steering. The Chief Officer acting as OOW and under Master's Orders. There was no Pilot on board.

At 0526 dawn was breaking as we passed abeam of Horsburgh Lighthouse westbound for the Western Tanker Anchorage off Sultan Shoal Lighthouse. Traffic Conditions were moderate to heavy. During our passage we were overtaken by 2 container ships and an LNG tanker. We had to alter our speed occasionally to maintain our distance from the ship ahead of us. Two ships crossed ahead of us inbound to Singapore and there were several fishing boats in the vicinity which we were required to avoid.

Traffic conditions in the eastbound lane were similar to the westbound lane. A loaded Chinese 5 hatch handy size bulk carrier of approximately 35,000 T was overtaking us on our port side. At 0650 he altered course to starboard and passed astern of us, presumably bound for the Singapore Pilot Boarding Ground.

From my position on the port side of the chart table, 45m above the waterline and 60m from the stern, I had to look down onto this ship to observed his relative bearing change as he went around our stern. I lost sight of his fore deck right back to the aft end of his No. 4 hatch. Some crew members who were sight seeing on our poop estimated he passed less than 20m astern of us. Fearing a collision they hurriedly left the poop so the actual passing distance is unknown except to say that it was far too close. At the time of this incident we were being overtaken by a container ship close on our port bow and a large LNG tanker. Close astern of this was a loaded bulk carrier overtaking both of us down our port sides. At 0742 we were abeam of the Eastern Buoy.

A busy mornings work with interesting possibilities. WHY?

What possesses people to take these enormous risks ?

How many other members out there can relate to this horror story ?