Eight crewmen rescued from sinking cargo ship near Bintulu

- Bernama

SIBU (Bernama): Eight crew members of a cargo ship faced an anxious moment when the vessel almost sank due to a storm about 17 nautical miles from the Bintulu Port.

Sarawak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Bintulu Maritime Zone acting director Commander Effendy Mohamed Fadil said the ship's entire crew had boarded a life raft and were rescued by two MMEA boats and a group of local fishermen.

"All the victims are in good condition and did not suffer any injuries. Preliminary checks found that they were Indonesians aged from 20 and 71. The cargo ship almost sank due to the storm," he said in a media statement on Saturday (Sept 5).

He said the ship's crew was later referred to the Health Department to undergo a Covid-19 test.

Following the incident, he reminded the maritime community – especially those in Bintulu – to prioritise safety while at sea and wear safety jackets at all times. – Bernama