KUALA LUMPUR: The Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has confirmed that the Tanzanian-registered ship MT Layar Anggun 8, which caught fire and drifted (Not Under Command) on Tuesday, was indeed in Malaysian waters.
Johor MMEA director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the incident occurred at a position 5.6 nautical miles southeast of Pulau Lima, Johor, and the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) had deployed their assets after receiving the report.
However, upon their arrival, the ship was nowhere to be found, as the victims had already been rescued by the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) during the 3.30pm incident.
"The incident was reported by the Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone after receiving an email from the Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) Pasir Gudang regarding the incident.
"Subsequently, MMEA, through the Johor Baru MRSC, arranged for an MMEA ship and patrol boat to the location of the incident, but the reported ship was not there.
"Around 4.30pm, MRSC Johor Baru received confirmation that the MT Layar Anggun 8 ship had drifted into the waters of Bintan Island, Indonesia, and all 12 crew members were rescued by Singapore authorities at a position 9.5 nautical miles east of Tanjung Punggai, Johor, within Malaysian territorial waters," he said in a statement.
He added that according to the National Search and Rescue (SAR) manual, assets near a maritime emergency should provide assistance regardless of national boundaries.
He said that the MPA received the incident report earlier because a ship near the incident area reported it to the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) under the Singapore MPA's supervision, despite the fact that the incident occurred in Malaysian waters, as stipulated in the Ship Reporting Sector Division within the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Malacca and Singapore Straits.
