CHUKAI: A "ghost ship" drifting in the waters near the Semangkok A oil platform in Terengganu since Aug 12 will undergo a safety inspection before a full investigation begins.
Pahang Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director First Admiral (Maritime) Mazlan Mat Rejab said the vessel was successfully towed to the Kemaman Supply Base (KSB) in Teluk Kalung at about 11.30am Friday (Aug 15).
He said 12 personnel from the Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) team of the Terengganu and Pahang Fire and Rescue Department will board the ship on Friday afternoon for an initial inspection. This will be followed by a more thorough examination by other security personnel.
"The towing operation, coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Kuantan, the Marine Department of Malaysia (JLM) East Coast Region, and PETRONAS, with the assistance of several private agencies, was completed after the vessel travelled 140 nautical miles over two days," he told a press conference at the Kemaman Maritime Zone here Friday.
He added that Hazmat personnel would first ensure the ship is safe and free from risks before other rescue teams and agencies board for further inspections.
Mazlan credited the success of the operation to the cooperation of 62 personnel and officers from various security agencies and oil and gas industry partners.
For the operation, a Dauphin AS 365 N3 helicopter was used for aerial monitoring, while the Maritime Special Task and Rescue Team (STAR Team) was flown from Kerteh to the Larut Platform. From there, they were transferred to the MV Aishah AIMS 1 to board the ghost ship.
"The team managed to install the towline, which was then transferred to the MV JM Purnama rescue vessel for the remaining 140-nautical-mile journey," he said.
Mazlan added that the ghost ship had no crew onboard, and authorities are still investigating the cause of a fire on the vessel. The fire's origin remains unclear, with suspicion that it could have been caused by hazardous gas or other chemicals, which poses significant risks to the tow vessel's crew.
He said authorities believe the ghost ship may be linked to a fire on a foreign tanker at Tanjung Sedili Kecil, near the eastern waters of Johor, Kota Tinggi, last week. However, the identity of the ghost ship is still under investigation. - Bernama
