Sand Dredger Sinks Off Malaysia, All Crew Rescued
All 19 crew members of the sand dredger Vivo Arya were successfully rescued after the vessel sank about 25 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Pasir Hitam, close to Kuala Kurau in Malaysia’s Perak state on Sunday, October 25. The incident prompted a swift response from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
According to the MMEA, nearby ships played a crucial role in the rescue efforts, with 18 crew members being recovered by vessels in the vicinity. The final crew member was located by an MMEA boat shortly after the sinking. Maritime Captain Zainudin Mohd Zuki reported that nine crew members were saved by the sand dredger YAODE 1, while the others, who had taken refuge in a life raft, were rescued by VIVO DIYA.
The Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Headquarters Operations Centre received an emergency call at 05:53 local time, prompting the activation of a search and rescue (SAR) operation at 06:30. The coordinated efforts of the nearby vessels and the MMEA ensured the safe recovery of all crew members involved in this maritime incident.
