Cargo ship rescues 11 Malaysians off Tawi-Tawi province

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier bound for China rescued 11 Malaysian nationals off the southern Philippine province of Tawi-Tawi after their speedboat’s engine malfunctioned, a Filipino Navy commander Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio said Tuesday.

 

Photos released by the Western Mindanao Command to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner show the rescued speedboat and two of its 11 passengers. 

Racadio, quoting a report, said the private speedboat departed Tawau City for Semporna City in Sabah on March 28, but the engine’s injection pump malfunctioned and the boat, battered by huge waves and strong current due to bad weather, drifted towards Sibutu Straight. 

“The crew tried to fix it but to no avail, causing them to drift to Sibutu Strait, after being hit by big waves and strong currents due to bad weather conditions,” he said. 

The bulk carrier MV Tomini Dynasty spotted the speedboat and rescued the passengers after informing the Philippine Navy. 

“After receiving the report, the military’s Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, through its task units, conducted validation in coordination with the different law enforcement units and lead government agencies. The Maritime Coordinating Center Tawi-Tawi of JTF Tawi-Tawi immediately coordinated with the MCC-Tawau regarding the incident,” Racadio said. 

He said personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard in Sibutu Station and members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Sibutu proceeded to the location of the cargo ship and provided water, food, and immediate medical assistance to the rescued Malaysians. 

The bulk carrier then properly turned over the Malaysians and their towed speedboat to the Royal Malaysian Navy in Sabah on April 1. (Mindanao Examiner)