Malaysian Tanker Missing
The Malaysian-registered vessel MT Orkim Harmony carrying 6,000 metric tonnes of RON95 petrol went missing in the South China Sea near Johor on Thursday (June 11). The tanker was sailing from Malacca to Kuantan Port.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has expressed his concern over the fate of MT Orkim Harmony and said that his government will deploy its resources to locate the missing oil tanker off Johor.
"I am distressed by the news of a missing Malaysian-owned tanker. I pray for the safety of the 22-strong crew, 16 of who are Malaysians. My thoughts are with their families. The government will deploy our resources to locate it," the Prime Minister said.
Earlier, the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said in a statement that Orkim Harmony was sailing from Malacca to Kuantan when it disappeared.
Southern Region Operations Director MMEA, First Admiral Ibrahim Mohamed said, the location of the vessel was reportedly cut off at a position 30 nautical miles East Sedili. "The loss of the ship was raised from the company, Orkim Ship Management Sdn Bhd at 6 am Friday before the lapse of 10 hours after losing contact," he said.
MMEA has fired a broadside at Orkim Ship Management for taking 10 hours to report the loss of communication with missing product tanker.
The Malay Mail reports that Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, the minister overseeing MMEA, said that the delay will only complicate rescue operations and jeopardize the safety of the 22 crew members onboard.
Piracy Reporting Centre of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) confirmed the reports.
The vessel is owned by Magna Meridian and managed by Orkim Ship Management, who had another vessel, Orkim Victory, taken by pirates earlier this month in the same area...
A statement from the company says: "Orkim Sdn Bhd (Orkim) regretfully confirms the report issued by Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) that the Company has lost contact with its vessel Orkim Harmony early morning 12 June 2015."
"Orkim Harmony was on her laden passage from Melaka to Port of Kuantan, having departed on 10 June 2015 at 0930 hours and originally expected to arrive at the Port of Kuantan on 12 June 2015 also at 0930 hours. The vessel's last position was reported at southwest of Pulau Aur, Mersing in Malaysian waters and she was carrying 22 crew members consisting of 16 Malaysians, five Indonesians and one Myanmar national."
