One missing, 38 survive as blast triggers fire on board drilling ship

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The blaze on board the drilling vessel seen from afar.

MIRI: A Malaysian is missing after an explosion triggered a fire on board a drilling vessel, some five nautical miles off Kuala Baram early yesterday.

The identity of the missing crewman has been withheld by authorities. Two of the survivors who suffered injuries in the 3.15am incident were identified as second engineer Muhammad Hafiz Ismail, 36, and Khairul Isma Ismail, 35.

Muhammad Hafiz suffered about 20 per cent burns, while Khairul Isma sustained injuries to his forehead, face and lips. Both were sent to Miri Hospital for treatment.

The two are among 38 who survived the incident.

In a press conference yesterday, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) District 13 head Capt Md Fauzi Othman said the agency dispatched a vessel and six crewmen to the scene immediately after receiving a distress call.

(From right) Ting, Md Fauzi and others at the press conference.

“At 3.16am, MMEA instructed the vessel Penggalang 23 with six crew members on board to check on the distress signal received.

“Penggalang 23 arrived at the scene located some five nautical miles or about 9km off Kuala Baram at 3.45am, and discovered that a drilling vessel belonging to Ageo Marine Sdn Bhd had caught fire,” he said.

According to him, the drilling vessel had 33 Malaysians, five Indonesians and one Thai national on board. It is confirmed that only 38 people were accounted for, as at 3pm yesterday.

It is learnt that the fire was caused by an explosion in the power pack engine room.

“The vessel’s captain did a good job by directing all crew members to save themselves by jumping into the sea. The 38 survivors were saved by two other vessels – MP Perdana Frontier and MP Nautica Aleesya – which happened to be in the vicinity,” said Md Fauzi, adding that the fire was brought under control at 8am.

The second batch of survivors arrives at the jetty in Coco Cabana.

Meanwhile, a search-and-recover (SAR) operation was launched at 4am yesterday for the missing crewman, led by MMEA vessel KM Siakap and assisted by Penggalang 23 and three other private vessels.

“We have also requested for a helicopter from the Royal Malaysian Air Force in Kuching and Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Air Unit to assist in the SAR operation.

“We remain hopeful that the missing crew members would be found safe,” said Md Fauzi during a press conference, where Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting was also present.

Four of the survivors arrived onshore at 7.40am, while the other 34, including the injured two men, arrived at a jetty in Coco Cabana here around 1.30pm.

When asked if the crewmen, who are mostly from Peninsular Malaysia, had permits to work in Sarawak waters, Md Fauzi said MMEA had yet to check on the matter.

“But I think Petronas is a trustworthy corporation and will not breach the laws of the state government,” he said.

Meanwhile in a press statement yesterday, Petronas confirmed the fire incident on board the Geo Technical vessel.

“We have activated our Emergency Response Team and are working closely with the relevant authorities to contain the incident and bring the situation under control.

“Our utmost priority and concern is the safety of the people and environment at the moment,” it said.