KUCHING: The Malaysian-registered cargo ship, which was reported missing while it was heading to Limbang from here, has been found.
Sarawak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency commander First Admiral First Admiral Ismaili Bujang Pit said MV Sah Lian ship was found about 25 nautical miles away from Tanjung Baram near Miri at about 4pm today.
"The agency's KM Mersuji vessel are closing in on the missing ship. We are waiting for another patrol boat to tow MV Sah Lian to bay," said Ismaili.
He did not elaborate on the condition of the 14 crews including the ship's captain as well as the 500 tonnes cargo worth about RM1 million on-board the vessel.
A source closed to the agency, however, said all crew members and cargos "are safe".
It was reported that MV Sah Lian had departed from Kuching to its destination at about 5pm on Sept 2.
The manager of the shipping firm lodged a police report after the vessel did not arrive on its schedule date on Sept 5. The police report was only lodged on Monday.
The last contact made between the shipping manager and the captain of the ship was on Sept 3 where the former was informed that the cargo ship was within the waters near Sarikei.
There cargo ship was manned by two Indonesian nationals, five people from Myanmar, four Indian nationals and three Malaysians.
In an earlier press conference, he said a commercial ship spotted the missing vessel about 23 nautical miles away from Miri.
Acting on the information, the MMEA deployed its vessel to the location only to find that it was no longer there upon arrival.
Ismaili said the ship may have drifted further since it was last spotted and does not ruled out any possibilities including hijack in the case of the cargo ship.