2 Singapore-registered ships off Johor catch fire

KOTA TINGGI - Two ships anchored off Pulau Lima here caught fire on Saturday morning. The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said it received an emergency call on the fires on the two Singapore-registered vessels, MT Sakses Satria 1 and MT Kit 57, at 11.40am.

Tanjung Sedili MMEA operations director Commander (maritime) Mustafa Kamal Abas said officers rushed to the scene, which was one nautical mile south of Pulau Mungging, and rescued a crew member.

"Four other crew members were rescued by a Customs Department boat."

Mustafa said two of the crew members were sent to Kota Tinggi Hospital to be treated for cuts and a broken leg.

According to the crew, the fire started in the main engine room of MT Kit 57 before spreading to the other ship.

"There was nobody on the ship at the time, making it easier for the fire to spread to MT Sakses Satria 1," said Mustafa.

He said the Department of Environment had been alerted about the fire and its officers would monitor the area for oil spills.