JOHOR BAHRU: The Marine Department is conducting a further investigation into the cause of an incident in which tanker MT SMF IXORA drifted and struck the Sungai Johor Bridge on Wednesday (Sept 2).
In a statement issued through its Southern Region office, the department said preliminary information indicated that the tanker had just been launched into the water from the nearby Benzmark Marine Shipyard when strong currents caused it to drift towards the bridge.
"The tugboat escorting the vessel was reportedly unable to control its movement due to the strong currents and limited towing capacity," the Thursday (Aug 3) statement said.
The tanker sustained minor damage to its exhaust system, railings and navigation equipment. The bridge structure also reportedly suffered minor damage.
Two additional tugboats later arrived and successfully towed the vessel away from the bridge before it was safely anchored.
The department said it would continue working with the relevant parties to ensure navigational safety and the structural integrity of the bridge.
Senai-Desaru Expressway Berhad (SDEB) confirmed yesterday that the bridge remained safe and open to traffic, adding that the incident had not compromised road-user safety. – Bernama
