Three crew members from an Aframax tanker that caught fire in southern Malaysian waters are still missing, and a search and rescue operation is currently underway for them. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and another tanker in the vicinity are said to have rescued the majority of the crew. There have been rumors that the incident-caused vessel was transporting Iranian oil.
Subtleties on the circumstance, which is as yet unfurling, are scant right now, however Singapore's Sea and Port Authority has distinguished the big hauler as the Pablo, enrolled in Gabon. The Singapore government is keeping an eye on the rescue operation, sending marines alerts about the burning tanker, and searching for the missing seafarers.
The MMEA says that at 1600, it got a distress call about the tanker and sent rescue boats there. The Enola, a 301,000 dwt tanker, came to the burning ship's aid and was able to save 18 crew members. Two members of the crew were rescued from the water by the MMEA's rescue vessel Petir 12, and a third member of the crew was rescued by another vessel. According to the most recent count, 23 of the 28 crew members were rescued, but a crew list is still being compiled.
The MMEA's photos and videos show the 761-foot vessel completely consumed, with the fire moving forward along the ship. The cause of the fire is unknown. The crude oil tanker appears to be high in the water, but it is unknown if she carries any cargo.
The tanker was constructed in Japan in 1997, and her 26-year history reveals a lengthy ownership list. Since 2018, the Equasis database has seven names and flags, but no detentions, and a clean inspection record. The Pablo was en route from Zhoushen, China, where she left on April 18 and was anchored in the Riau Archipelago. She is 96,773 dwt.
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