PETALING JAYA: A container ship caught fire near Pantai Acheh, Port Klang, late Saturday evening, though none of its crew members was hurt.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said a Selangor MMEA boat, two tugboats from Westport and another from Northport were deployed once a distress call was received that the ship named MV KMTC Shenzhen was on fire.
“The fire broke out in the ship’s cargo area.
“Water cannons from the two tugboats were used to bring the fire under control,” it added.
An MMEA ship that was operating in another sector was also deployed while another boat from the Maritime Department as well as a squad of firemen were dispatched to the scene.
The aftermath: A fireman checking on the goods on board the container ship after the fire.
“All of the ship’s crew were rescued and are safe,” said the MMEA.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Md Razali Wan Ismail said the fire on board MV KMTC Shenzhen was brought under control within two hours after rescuers arrived.
He said firemen arrived at the container ship’s location at 1.38am yesterday.
“With the assistance of other departments, including the MMEA, we managed to get the fire under control by 3.33am,” he said.
Wan Md Razali said the department’s reconnaissance team entered the location at 7.20am and discovered two containers in the ship were still emitting smoke.
“The containers were filled with general goods and resins. The container storing resins had a leak.
“We are still in the midst of stamping out the last embers of the fire via direct attack. We are also inspecting the containers and patching up any leaks,” he added.
