KUCHING: The search and rescue (SAR) operation for the MV Tung Sung ship, which was reported to have capsized on July 20, was suspended yesterday (July 28) at 6pm until the operation to right the ship is completed.
Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak director First Admiral Zin Azman Md Yunus said the appointed contractor informed them that the operation to right the ship will only resume on July 30 and is expected to take another five to seven days for the ship to be fully restored to its original position.
The SAR operation will also be suspended until a later date to be announced and the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Kuching will re-coordinate the search operation with the involved rescue agencies for the search inside the ship after the ship righting work is completed.
“Nevertheless, MRSC Kuching will remain open to monitor the progress of the SAR until its completion.
“The total search area until the seventh day of the operation covers an area of 1221.36 square nautical miles, including the waters of Sebuyau, Pulau Burung, and the coast of Pulau Burung.
“Involving assets are from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Marine Police Force (PPM), Sarawak Coast Guard (SCG), Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA), and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM).
“Airborne search efforts also include aircraft from the Police Air Unit (PGU),” he said in a press release issued today (July 29).
On the eighth and ninth days of the operation, he added, the focus will be on monitoring and ensuring safety during the ship righting process and controlling any oil spills in the area.
Throughout the operation, four bodies have been found, and four more are still missing until the suspension of the operation.
Six days ago, at around 1.15pm, MMEA received information from local fishermen regarding the discovery of three bodies floating some 15 nautical miles northeast of Pulau Burung.
“The bodies were retrieved and taken to the Sebuyau public jetty to be handed over to the police for hotel transportation.
“Later, at around 5.25pm, the Kota Kinabalu maritime ship retrieved another body that was seen floating in the same search sector, and it was handed over to the police for further action at the Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex Jetty (KOMTAS),” he said.
