SEBUYAU: Efforts to refloat the capsized vessel of MV Tung Sung which was carrying landscaping rocks at the Pulau Burung Sebuyau will be made by the shipping company soon.
Director of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Zin Azman Yunus said the refloating process planned requires skilled divers and preparations for underwater operations.
He said during a press conference held at the Sebuyau’s pier today, the effort may be affected by the visibility of the murky water and weather conditions.
“The current visibility is zero and it is not an easy task. The shipping company has to consider the divers’ energy, equipment, ships and crane that have the capacity to lift and refloat the capsized vessel.
“We (maritime) will constantly have follow up on the company and update it to the media on the progress of the operation,” said Zin.
He added that they are not ruling out the possibility that some victims might have drifted to shore or open sea.
Furthermore, Zin added, today at approximately 9.44 pm, the representatives of the vessel’s company informed that only eight people were onboard the said vessel.
“The crew member who did not join the voyage is identified as Maxwell Billy Stimba, a local.
“The eight missing victims consist of three locals from Sibu namely Chieng Siew Ngiek, Wong Hua Wu and Stimba Chuit, four Myanmar nationals namely That Min July, Ye Lin Htet, Hla Win Tun and Tun Lin Oo, as well as an Indonesian named Lido Ali Purwanto.”
The incident was reported last Wednesday (July 19) at 9 pm, and communication difficulties at sea hindered immediate reporting.
The incident occurred during a voyage to Sibu on the night of July 19 when the vessel capsized and a search and rescue operation was mounted the following day involving the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), MMEA, Police Air Unit (PGU), Malaysia Fire And Rescue Department (JBPM), Civil Defence Force (APM) and the Sarawak Coast Guard (SCG) with 97 officers and members and nine assets and covering an area of 373.65 square nautical miles around Pulau Burung.
