Environmental hazard: The cargo ship stranded off Chendor beach near Cherating, Pahang.
PETALING JAYA: Authorities have taken proactive action to minimise the risk of an oil spill from a stranded cargo ship lodged 15m away from Pahang’s Chendor beach, says Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The ship without any cargo drifted away from its original berthing area near Kemaman port, after bad weather caused its mooring rope to snap.
The Sierra Leone-registered ship was then found stranded close to Chendor beach, near Cherating, on Jan 30.
Nik Nazmi said while there were no casualties, the ship does hold 18 tonnes of diesel, which runs the risk of leaking out.
Earlier, three crewmembers jumped into the sea to save themselves during the spell of bad weather.
“The Environment Department sent its investigation team to inspect the ship on the same day, other than using drones.
“The department then requested that the Eastern Region Marine Office implement control measures against oil spills. Continuous monitoring until today has shown no pollution resulting from the incident,” said Nik Nazmi in a statement yesterday.
He added that a request has been made to tow the ship back to Kemaman port and for a boom to be installed as a preventive measure in case of an oil spill.
The statement also said the public can tip off the department through its toll-free line at 1-800-88-2727 that operates round-the-clock, or email aduan_k@doe.gov.my.
On a separate matter, Nik Nazmi said the death of a foreign worker at a mining area in Bukit Perangin, Kedah has been reported.
“Reports show that the mining face was unstable and at risk of collapsing. On-site inspections have found that no safety or warning signs were placed near the incident area,” he said in another statement yesterday.
According to witnesses, workers disregarded management instructions to work in designated areas.
All activities in the mining area were ordered to be stopped under Section 21(2) of the Mineral Development Act 1994, with access to the area sealed off until investigations are completed.
