PUBLISHED ONAugust 09, 2015 11:27 AM
SINGAPORE - A Singapore-registered oil tanker that had been reported missing in Selangor waters has been found.
In a statement on Sunday, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said that the MT Joaquim tanker was found approximately 13.7 natutical miles off Tanjung Keling, Malaysia.
It had reportedly been hijacked yesterday in the Straits of Malacca, while en route to Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia from Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia.
The Singapore Navy's Information Fusion Centre alerted authorities in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand to look out for the vessel, and shared information on its profile to facilitate the search effort.
The vessel's ship management company, RTBS Consultants Pte Ltd, said that the nine crew members, comprising eight Indonesians and a Singaporean, had all been accounted for.
However, oil cargo on board the tanker was reported missing. According to The Star, the tanker had been carrying 3,500 metric tonnes of marine fuel oil.
MPA said that one crew member was injured in the incident, and was airlifted to Alor Gajah Hospital in Malacca.
It added that the ship management company was arranging to bring the tanker back to Singapore.
seanyap@sph.com.sg