KUCHING: Salvage operation to refloat the capsized ship MV Tung Sung continues today, with the focus on righting the vessel and finding the missing victims.
According to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak director, First Admiral Zin Azman Md Yunus, the process of recovering the ship commenced yesterday (July 27), but as of that evening, the vessel has not been successfully restored to its original position.
“During the ship’s righting process, an oil leakage was reported in the engine room area, leading to an oil spill around the operation site.
“In response, the maritime vessel KM Kota Kinabalu and hydro vessel Permata Hidro from the Malaysian Maritime Department (JLM) will be deployed to monitor and control the oil spread in the affected area, starting 8 am today.
“The Carilamat Forward Base (PHC) at Sebuyau Public Jetty was also suspended earlier. PHC’s reopening date will be announced once MV Tung Sung has been fully righted,” he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, coordination efforts will continue at the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Kuching until the Carilamat operation for MV Tung Sung reaches completion.
The Carilamat operation involves joint efforts of eight assets deployed from the Malaysian Maritime, Marine Police Force (PPM), Sarawak Coast Guard (SCG), Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JPBM), Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), and the Marine Department of Malaysia (JLM). The operation comprises 103 officers and members.
“Additionally, the Hazardous Material (Hazmat) Unit and JBPM team from Simunjan provided support by conducting searches for victims inside the ship.
“However, due to the ship not being fully righted (recovered) yet, the search for victims by both units could not be carried out today,” he added.
Earlier the MV Tung Sung, which was carrying landscaping rocks from Kuching to Sibu, encountered strong waves that caused it to capsize near Pulau Burung at around 9 pm on July 19.
A total of eight crew members, aged between 20 and 52, were onboard the ship at the time of the accident.
Among them were Chieng Siew Ngiek, Wong Hua Wu and Stimba Chuit from Sibu; Myanmar nationals That Min July, Ye Lin Htet, Hla Win Tun and Tun Lin Oo; and Indonesian Lido Ali Purwanto.
Last Saturday (July 22), rescuers found four bodies believed to be the crew members between 1 pm and 5.25 pm.
