KOTA KINABALU: Twelve anglers are stranded at sea after their boat’s engine malfunctioned in waters near the Saint Joseph oil rig off here, last night.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation at 6.50am today after receiving a distress call.
Sabah and Labuan MMEA director Rear Admiral Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the emergency call was about a fishing boat named “Ocean Kamara,” with the registration number atN 755/2/F, experiencing an engine malfunction.
"The boat was three nautical miles southwest of the Saint Joseph oil rig when its engine died at 7.35pm.
“(There are) 12 people on board, and we have deployed our KM Berani ship to search for them, with assistance from the marine police.
“The weather is fine, with winds at 20 to 30 kilometres per hour, and wave heights at between 0.5 and 1.0 metre," he said.
Zubil said the group of anglers left Kampung Serusup jetty in Tuaran at about 12.30pm two days ago.