Tanker catches fire off PD
Published: Aug 19, 2009 2:43 AM | Updated: Aug 19, 2009 9:53 AM
A tanker caught fire after colliding with a bulk carrier in the Malacca Strait, about 20 nautical miles off Port Dickson last night.
The flames could be seen from the beaches in Port Dickson and the heat from them prevented rescuers from approaching the vessel.
A tanker caught fire after colliding with a bulk carrier in the Malacca Strait, about 20 nautical miles off Port Dickson last night.
The flames could be seen from the beaches in Port Dickson and the heat from them prevented rescuers from approaching the vessel.
Port Dickson police chief Supt Mazlan Othman said the tanker was from Liberia and the bulk carrier from Britain and that each had a crew of 25.
"The crew from the tanker are safe and are on their way to shore while no one on the bulk carrier was injured," he told reporters at the Port Dickson jetty.
He added that the bulk carrier was reported to have sustained only slight damage and had continued with its journey to Singapore.
Mazlan said the tanker was still in flames and was waiting for fire-fighting boats from Port Klang to arrive.
He said the Fire and Rescue Department was notified at 9.15pm and it is believed a major oil spill had occurred.
He said police had relayed the information to the Department of Civil Aviation to warn of heavy smoke which might affect flights going to and coming from the KL International Airport.
The jetty has become a hive of activity with hordes of journalists as well as boats from the Marine Department, the police's Marine Operations Force, Fire and Rescue Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, which are participating in rescue and spillage containment efforts.
-Bernama
The flames could be seen from the beaches in Port Dickson and the heat from them prevented rescuers from approaching the vessel.Port Dickson police chief Supt Mazlan Othman said the tanker was from Liberia and the bulk carrier from Britain and that each had a crew of 25.
"The crew from the tanker are safe and are on their way to shore while no one on the bulk carrier was injured," he told reporters at the Port Dickson jetty.
He added that the bulk carrier was reported to have sustained only slight damage and had continued with its journey to Singapore.Mazlan said the tanker was still in flames and was waiting for fire-fighting boats from Port Klang to arrive.
He said the Fire and Rescue Department was notified at 9.15pm and it is believed a major oil spill had occurred.
He said police had relayed the information to the Department of Civil Aviation to warn of heavy smoke which might affect flights going to and coming from the KL International Airport.The jetty has become a hive of activity with hordes of journalists as well as boats from the Marine Department, the police's Marine Operations Force, Fire and Rescue Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, which are participating in rescue and spillage containment efforts.
-Bernama
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