Kemaman: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) rescued 15 crew members from a cargo ship that suffered a significant leak while sailing from Lumut, Perak, to Vietnam early this morning. Kemaman Maritime Zone director, Maritime Commander Abdul Halim Hamzah, reported that the incident transpired around 1 am when the vessel, carrying clay, was about 59 nautical miles northeast of Merchang in Marang.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Kuantan activated emergency procedures following the incident and instructed the vessel to move closer to shore to minimise risk. As a result, the Malaysian Maritime patrol vessel, KM Sebatik, was dispatched to the location. The crew members were safely transferred at a position approximately five nautical miles east of Kampung Jambu Bongkok, Marang.

Abdul Halim stated that the rescued crew, consisting of 13 Vietnamese nationals and one each from India and Bangladesh, aged between 21 and 54, were brought to the Kemaman Maritime Zone jetty at 6.05 pm. They underwent health checks and were handed over to their respective agents.