The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) responded to an emergency involving the rescue of 10 crew members aboard an older coastal general cargo ship.
On 8th July, the vessel, named Kum Jin and built in 1988, reported a significant hull crack, resulting in severe flooding described by MMEA as substantial.
The ship, originally registered in Mongolia but managed from Malaysia, operated in local Malaysian waters with a deadweight tonnage of 2,200 and a length of 229 feet (70 meters). The distress call was received at 0335 on July 8, indicating a crack on the port side of the hull near the ballast tank, leading to flooding.
Located west of Tanjung Rhu in the Malacca Strait, south of Kuala Lumpur, the vessel was reached by the MMEA’s rescue boat as the captain and nine crew members were preparing to evacuate onto a lifeboat.
Despite challenging weather conditions, MMEA successfully transferred all 10 crew members onto a patrol boat, which transported them safely to shore. The captain hailed from Indonesia, while the crew included members from Indonesia and Myanmar.
Subsequently, the ship sank following the rescue operation.
