BW Rhine : Singapore Condemns All Attacks On Commercial Vessels

SINGAPORE, Dec. 16 (Bernama) -- Singapore condemns all attacks on commercial vessels, which pose a serious threat to the security and safety of international maritime navigation and trade, says the republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). MFA said this in a statement issued here following an incident involving a Singapore-registered commercial oil tanker, BW RHINE, anchored at the Port of Jeddah, which was reported to be damaged in the early hours of Dec 14. “According to an official spokesman from the Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the vessel was attacked by an ‘explosive-laden boat’", said the ministry. “This resulted in a small fire and hull damage but none of the vessel’s 22 crew members were injured and there were no Singaporeans on board,” it said. MFA noted that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is currently investigating the incident with the relevant Saudi authorities. -- BERNAMA