|
|
A tanker carrying sludge caught fire
forcing 17 of its crew members to jump overboard off the waters of
Pengerang near here.
Most of the crew managed to save themselves from the burning
vessel, but two Indonesian crew members are still missing.
The fire, which was put out from a downpour, did not cause
excessive damage to the ship and so far no oil spill has been
reported.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said that marine police
personnel rescued 10 of the crew soon after the 11am fire.
All of them are now at the Pengerang police station.
He added that the marine police, the Malaysian Maritime
Enforcement Agency Southern Region and the Marine Department were
carrying out the operation.
He said that two of the crew members were Chinese nationals while
the rest were Indonesians.
Supt Osman said that five crew members suffered minor injuries and
were fished out by a passing merchant ship on its way to
Singapore.
He added that the tanker, mt Vertex, which was from Indonesia to
Singapore, had anchored five nautical miles from Pengerang four days
ago.
Supt Osman also said that it was registered in San Lorenzo
Honolulu, Hawaii, and is owned by a company based in Singapore.
Johor Marine Police Squad 2 chief Asst Comm Mohd Khamsani Abdul
Rahman said that according to the skipper, the fire started in the
kitchen area and was fanned by strong winds.
He said that two Singapore Police Coast Guard boats and the
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore assisted them in the
search and rescue operation.
|
