IPOH, Oct 26 – All 19 crew members of a sand dredger were rescued in a coordinated maritime operation after their vessel sank approximately 25 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Pasir Hitam, off the coast of Kuala Kurau, on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Perak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Director Maritime Captain Zainudin Mohd Zuki confirmed that the Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Headquarters Operations Centre received a 999 emergency distress call at 5:53 AM, triggering a search and rescue (SAR) operation at 6:30 AM.
The joint rescue mobilized MMEA vessels KM GAGAH and PERKASA 1238, alongside immediate assistance from nearby commercial vessels operating in the vicinity.
Nearby merchant ships pulled 18 crew members to safety, while MMEA search teams located the final missing crew member during targeted surface sweeps.
With every crew member safely accounted for, MMEA officially called off the search and rescue mission at 4:30 PM on Sunday.
Rescue Sequence, Medical Care, and MMEA Maritime Safety Guidelines
Key operational details, crew rescue distributions, and maritime safety advisories issued by MMEA include:
- Merchant Vessel Assistance: The sand dredger MV YAODE 1 rescued nine crew members near the site of the sinking, while another commercial vessel, MV VIVO DIYA, rescued nine crew members adrift on a life raft.
- Batu Maung Transit: The 18 crew members rescued by passing commercial vessels were subsequently transported to the Batu Maung Jetty for processing and administrative action.
- Missing Crew Member Saved: A 57-year-old Chinese national, Tang Jifu, who was initially reported missing following the sinking, was located safe by MMEA vessel PERKASA 1238. He was brought to the Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Jetty before being transferred to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation.
- MMEA Safety Advisory: Captain Zainudin urged all maritime operators to prioritize safety at sea, emphasizing proper life jacket usage and routine equipment maintenance to mitigate risks during offshore emergencies.
- Emergency Reporting Contacts: MMEA reminded the maritime community that emergencies and maritime complaints can be reported 24/7 via the 999 hotline or the Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 011-3525 9919.
–NMT
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