KUCHING: The grounding of a Russian sailing ship on a sandbar at Kuala Oya beach, Dalat, turned into an unexpected highlight for the local community, particularly the children there.
Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Minister and Dalat assemblywoman Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said she was grateful that the crew were safe.
“Alhamdulillah, all crew members are safe, and the villagers provided them with bottled water and some food.
“Meanwhile, the children of Kampung Senau were the most excited as this was the first time they saw a foreign vessel on their shores,” she said in a Facebook post in response to the incident.
Earlier, a sailing ship named Pilgrim, flying the Russian Federation’s flag and carrying four Russian crew members, ran aground on a sandbar at Kuala Oya beach amidst rough weather conditions.
The ship, which had sailed from the Philippines and made a stop in Labuan, ran into trouble while en route to Kuching from Miri.
Dalat police chief DSP Saga Chunggat said on Dec 20 at 8 pm, he received a phone call from a member of the public who reported sighting a ship stranded on a sandbar near the beach at Kuala Oya, Dalat.
“The ship was reported to be approximately 50 to 100 metres from the shore and the incident occurred during heavy rain and strong winds,” he said.
Due to the harsh weather, he said neither the police nor nearby villagers from Kampung Senau were able to assist the crew immediately.
“However, a rescue operation led by Inspector Zulhimi Panggis and two officers from the Oya Police Station was launched after the rain eased at around 10 pm.
“A light was visible on the ship, and the crew had also set off red flares as a distress signal.
“Inspector Zulhimi and his team, with the help of local villagers, navigated through a 300-metre stretch of coastal forest and successfully located the crew, who were sheltering on the shore of Kuala Oya.” he said.
He added all four crew were found safe after evacuating their stranded ship onto the shore using their life raft and sheltering from the waves and strong winds.
“According to the ship’s captain, Sinelnik Sergei, the ship’s navigation system had malfunctioned.
“They were stranded on the Kuala Oya sandbar because the crew were unfamiliar with the area and the entry route to the Kuala Sungai Oya estuary to take shelter from the waves.
He added the crew had valid documents and passports and cooperated fully with authorities.
“They also requested assistance from a tugboat to free their stranded ship,” he said.
As of now, Sarawak Tribune is verifying whether the ship remains stranded there.
