11 crewmen missing after sand dredger overturns near Muar (updated)

BATU PAHAT: Eleven crew members are feared missing after a sand-dredging vessel overturned in the waters off Parit Jawa in Muar on Wednesday morning.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's Batu Pahat base said it received the distress call at 8.50am.

The Chinese owned, Dominican-registered dredger JBB Rong Chang 8 has a total crew of 18, comprising one Malaysian crewman, one Indonesian and 16 Chinese nationals.

Fifteen members of the crew were thrown into the water when the vessel overturned. Of that number, three have been found safe, while another was discovered drowned with 11 crewmen still missing.

According to base director Maritime Lieutenant Commander Muhammad Zulkarnain Abdullah, two MMEA patrol boats were deployed to the location of the incident upon receiving the call.

Comm Zulkarnain also urged the public to be careful when carrying out activities at sea, and in case of emergency, the Batu Pahat Maritime Base can be contacted at 07-4344 020 or through the 999 emergency line.