Tanker burned and sank after explosion, 6 crew missing, Singapore Strait

 Friday, Jun 16 2017

Chemical tanker PUTRI SEA or AQUARIUS reported sank after explosion and fire on June 14 in position 4.6 nm southwest of Tanjung Pengelih, Malaysia, eastern Singapore Strait.

Tanker loaded with fuel was reported to Singapore CG as missing by its’ Singaporean agent, Singapore contacted Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which sent patrol boat, but didn’t find tanker.

It was reported later, that tanker was on fire after explosion, 6 crew missing.

Local officials and media identify tanker as MT PUTRI SEA, MMEA mentioned IMO number, which is 8319160, belonging to a small Malaysia-flagged tanker AQUARIUS.

Most probably (if MMEA was correct with IMO No.), vessel changed name and flag, latest AIS dated morning June 14, southwest of Tanjung Pengelih.

All crew are Indonesians. SAR is under way.

SAR continues for missing crew members, MT Putri Sea vessel after explosion

By Rizalman Hammim - June 16, 2017 @ 6:36pm

JOHOR BARU: The search and rescue operation for the missing MT Putri Sea vessel and its crew members continued today with efforts being concentrated over a 35 square nautical miles area between waters off Tanjung Stapa and Teluk Ramunia.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Southern Region deputy director of operations Captain (Maritime) Sanifah Yusof said the operation involved assets and personnel from various agencies including MMEA, the Royal Malaysian Navy, marine police, the Marine Department and Johor Port.

"A total of seven assets and 50 personnel are involved in the operation," said Sanifah in a statement.

He said today's operation also includes measures to contain an oil spill and to place isolated danger buoy at locations where the vessel is believed to have sank.

"The cause of the incident is still being investigated and the Marine Department have issued a notice to identify the owner of the vessel," said Sanifah.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Equatorial Guinea-registered tanker had sank 4.6 nautical miles off Pengerang waters after an explosion where fire engulfed the vessel’s main engine room.

MMEA had said that they believed the ship had sunk based on a trail of fuel on the ocean’s surface.

There are six Indonesian crew members on board.

Royal Malaysian Navy locates wreck of MT Putri Sea

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 — The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) today managed to locate an underwater object, believed to be the wreck of MT Putri Sea, which sank approximately 4.6 nautical miles southwest of Tanjung Pengelih, near Pengerang, Johor early Thursday.

RMN chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin said the object was detected by RMN’s KD Perantau using multi-beam sonar.

“A team of navy divers is on the way to verify the object,” he tweeted on his official twitter account today.

Six Indonesian crew members were reported missing after an explosion on board the tanker which caused it sink.

The missing crewmen were identified as Akhmad Faharuddin, 35; Muhamad Heri Hernanda, 28; Abdur Rahem, 31; Rendy Alamanda, 28; Sulkifli, 39, and Yohanis Sumari, 35.

The MT Putri Sea was believed to be carrying crude oil and was registered in Malabo Port, Equatorial Guinea. — Bernama