ID :
76002
Wed, 08/19/2009 - 10:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/76002
The shortlink copeid
TANKER CATCHES FIRE AFTER COLLIDING WITH BULK CARRIER OFF PORT DICKSON
SEREMBAN (Malaysia), Aug 19 (Bernama) -- A tanker caught fire after colliding with a bulk carrier in the Melaka Strait, about 20 nautical miles off Port Dickson near here, south of Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday night.
The flames could be seen from the beaches in Port Dickon and the heat from
them prevented rescuers from approaching the vessel.
Port Dickson police chief Supt Mazlan Othman said the tanker was from
Liberia and the bulk carrier from Britain and that each had a crew of 25.
"The crew from the tanker are safe and are on their way to shore while no
one on the bulk carrier was injured," he told reporters at the Port Dickson
jetty.
He added that the bulk carrier was reported to have sustained only slight
damage and had continued with its journey to Singapore.
Mazlan said the tanker was still in flames and was waiting for fire-fighting
boats from Port Klang to arrive.
He said the Fire and Rescue Department was notified at 9.15pm and it is
believed a major oil spill had occurred.
He said police had relayed the information to the Department of Civil
Avaition to warn of heavy smoke which might affect flights going to and coming
from the KL International Airport.
The jetty has become a hive of activity with hordes of journalists as well
as boats from the Marine Department, the police's Marine Operations Force, Fire
and Rescue Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, which are
participating in rescue and spillage containment efforts.
-- BERNAMA
The flames could be seen from the beaches in Port Dickon and the heat from
them prevented rescuers from approaching the vessel.
Port Dickson police chief Supt Mazlan Othman said the tanker was from
Liberia and the bulk carrier from Britain and that each had a crew of 25.
"The crew from the tanker are safe and are on their way to shore while no
one on the bulk carrier was injured," he told reporters at the Port Dickson
jetty.
He added that the bulk carrier was reported to have sustained only slight
damage and had continued with its journey to Singapore.
Mazlan said the tanker was still in flames and was waiting for fire-fighting
boats from Port Klang to arrive.
He said the Fire and Rescue Department was notified at 9.15pm and it is
believed a major oil spill had occurred.
He said police had relayed the information to the Department of Civil
Avaition to warn of heavy smoke which might affect flights going to and coming
from the KL International Airport.
The jetty has become a hive of activity with hordes of journalists as well
as boats from the Marine Department, the police's Marine Operations Force, Fire
and Rescue Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, which are
participating in rescue and spillage containment efforts.
-- BERNAMA
