KOTA TINGGI: Crew members of a Malaysia-registered tanker that sank near Batu Puteh have been rescued by an Indonesia-registered tanker here.
Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) acting director Maritime Captain Kama Azri Kamil said an emergency flare was released at about 4.40pm on Sunday (Jan 12) some 2.1 nautical miles southwest of the Abu Bakar Maritime Base (ABMB).
"Agency officers stationed at ABMB detected the emergency flare and received a request for assistance via radio.
"A search and rescue operation was activated at 5pm, and a maritime vessel was deployed to the scene with additional support from the Malaysian navy.
"By 5.45pm, all eight crew members of the tanker had evacuated the vessel using a life raft and were rescued by a nearby Indonesia-flagged tanker," he said in a statement on Monday (Jan 12).
He added that the victims, all of whom are Indonesians, have been transferred to Batu Ampar, Batam, Indonesia.
"The search and rescue operation ended at 11.45pm on Sunday (Jan 12) after all victims were confirmed safe.
"The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Putrajaya coordinated the transfer of all victims to Batu Ampar, Batam, with the assistance of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency," he said.
He added that the Marine Department has been notified to alert nearby ships of the incident and to implement necessary measures to ensure navigational safety in Malaysian waters.
