25-8-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) The Royal Malaysian Navy has confirmed that its vessel, KD Pendekar, has sunk off the coast of Johor following severe flooding caused by a leak. The incident, which unfolded on Sunday afternoon, has prompted a swift response from maritime authorities and raised questions about naval safety protocols.
According to a statement released by the Navy, KD Pendekar succumbed to the waters at precisely 3:54 PM on Sunday, 25 August, approximately two nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Penyusop. The ship, with a rich history dating back to its construction by Karlskrona Varvet Shipyard in Sweden, had been in service since its commissioning into the Malaysian naval fleet on 27 July 1979.
The Navy reported that the crisis began around noon when a leak was detected in the ship’s engine room during an operational assignment. Despite valiant efforts by the crew to control the situation, the flooding rapidly escalated, becoming unmanageable and leading to the vessel’s eventual sinking.
In a silver lining to this maritime disaster, all 39 crew members were successfully rescued before the ship fully submerged, thanks to the prompt action of the local maritime community. The Navy expressed its gratitude for this swift response, confirming that no injuries were reported and that the rescued crew members have been safely accommodated at KD Sultan Ismail in Tanjung Pengelih.
KD Pendekar, terkandas.
Awaiting detailed incident/accident investigation report. pic.twitter.com/cDibWRoZBT— Kaithi At Sea (@Kay4Kumar) August 25, 2024
As the situation continues to develop, the Navy has deployed assets to the incident site to monitor both the current conditions and potential environmental impacts. Salvage operations are currently underway in an attempt to recover the sunken vessel.
In response to this significant incident, the Navy has announced the immediate formation of a special investigation board. This body will be tasked with determining the precise cause of the leak, which is preliminarily believed to have resulted from the vessel’s collision with an underwater object.
The Navy has also extended its appreciation to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the police, and the local maritime community for their assistance during this critical event.
