JOHOR BARU: The Royal Malaysian Navy vessel, KD Pendekar, has experienced "severe flooding" following a leak at approximately noon on Sunday (Aug 25).
The Navy said that the incident occurred two nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Penyusop, Johor, during an operational assignment.
“The leak, believed to have been caused by the vessel colliding with an underwater object, was initially detected in the ship's engine room.
“Despite the crew’s best efforts to control the situation and stabilise the vessel, the leak quickly spread and became unmanageable.
“Fortunately, all crew members were safely evacuated,” it said in a statement here on Sunday (Aug 25).
The Navy said its primary focus now was to conduct salvage operations to recover the vessel.
In light of the incident, the Navy has announced the immediate formation of a special investigation board to determine the cause of the leak.
The Navy has also expressed its gratitude to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the Royal Malaysia Police, and the local maritime community for their swift response and assistance during the incident.
“The public is advised not to create any speculation about the incident. For accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to official Navy sources,” it added.
