GEORGE TOWN: A fishing vessel has sunk in the waters of Permatang Damar Laut here early this morning.
The incident took place after it was believed to have to have collided with the remains of another ship, raising fears of a possible oil spill.
Five foreign crew members, including the vessel’s captain, escaped unhurt in the 5.30am incident which took place between Pulau Harimau and Pulau Kendi.
They were rescued by the marine police.
The captain of the Xin Yi Yi fishing vessel, Shek Shing Hei, 61, a Hong Kong national, said the flashing light from the buoy, placed at the site of the shipwreck, was not working at the time of the incident.
“I could not see the buoy as it was dark, misty and due to the wave, causing me to collide into the shipwreck.
“Loss is estimated at RM3.5 million involving the vessel, navigation equipment, live fishes and other equipments,” he said in his police report.
The other crew member had been identified as Chen Jian Hua, 43, Cai Rong Kun, 37, Jiang Li Xing, 48, and Chen Shi Xin, 47, all Chinese nationals.
Shipping agent S. Elumalai, who is handling the affairs of the five, said Shek is an experienced captain.
He added that they were on the way in to Penang island to collect live fishes when the incident occurred.
“He (Shek) said the thick mist resulted in his vision being obstructed, leading to the crash,” he said.
He was speaking to NSTP outside the Immigration office here. Earlier he accompanied the five seamen
to have their documentation checked.
All five did not want to comment on the incident.
Elumalai said the five would be on the island for a few more days before they leave for home.
“The fishing vessel is still at the site of the shipwreck and we need to see how it can be retrieved brought to shore,” he added.
Meanwhile, a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency spokesman, Commander (M) Hamizan Harun confirmed the incident.
State Marine Department officials were deployed to the scene to investigate the incident.
News of the sunken fishing vessel has since gone viral in the social media.
Netizen Firdaus Daus said the water in the area was shallow.
“Luckily, the ship only overturned and did not sink completely into the sea. The water there is generally shallow,” he added.
Another netizen, Azlan Sulaiman, said the water there was shallow and not suitable for big cargo ships to pass.