JOHOR BARU: The search and rescue operation for the three missing crewmen of the MT Pablo oil tanker that caught fire in Tanjung Sedili waters are underway.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deputy director-general (Logistics) Vice Admiral (M) Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim said day two of the operations were crucial, as there is a possibility that the trio were still alive and trapped in the vessel.
The three men have been identified as Indian nationals Satyam Tripathi, 26, and Dinesh Kumar, 34, and Ukrainian Sabit Shenderovsky, 37.
Satyam and Dinesh were Deck Fitters (Deck FTR) on Mt Pablo, who are responsible for fitting, maintaining and repairing any damaged parts on a vessel's decks, while Shenderovskya was the Personnel Manager (P/Man), in charge of overseeing the vessel and systems in terms of maintenance and operations.
"Currently, 136 officers are involved in this SAR joint- operation with the Malaysian Navy, Fisheries Department and police. Maritime assets including a helicopter and nine patrol boats are at the scene.
"We have condoned off the area, the fire was extinguished yesterday and the vessel is afloat with no danger to passing ships," Saiful Lizan said.
The Gabon, Africa-registered vessel, from China was on its route to Singapore to pick up their crude oil cargo when the vessel caught fire 37.5 nautical miles Northeast of Tanjung Sedili.
Maritime Malaysia received the distress call at 4pm, and immediately despatched their assets.
MT Pablo captain Ukrainian Lepyoskin Oleksandr, 38, noticed the fire with thick, black, blinding smoke in the vessel's amidships (middle portion of a vessel) about 2.15pm on Monday.
Oleksandr said he immediately rushed to the cargo control room, where the radio and emergency systems were placed to alert crew-members and place a distress call.
"The fire on the upper deck destroyed our aerial, none of the communication equipment were functioning, including the distress button. I had to use the walkie talkie, as all communication equipment failed. I kept on repeating "MT Pablo on fire", yet nothing seemed to work, there was static on the other end.
"Finally, I got in touch with our engineer via the walkie talkie but by then all of our safety boats were destroyed.
"As the captain I got my crew to abandon the vessel, but as they were jumping of the vessel in all directions, I could not keep a head count. I finally abandoned ship as the thick, black, smoke was getting into my eyes, nose and mouth, and I found it difficult to keep my eyes open or even breathe. It was windy too causing the fire to spread rapidly. I could not see anything.
"Luckily two passing ships were the vicinity and helped the 23 of us onboard, while two others were rescued by Maritime Malaysia.
"I believe my three crewmen are still alive, they are well-trained. I believe they have locked themselves in one of the air-tight cabins, my only fear is the cabin is too small and there won't be enough oxygen for them if they panic.
"I hope the Malaysian authorities will expediate the SAR operations," he said.
The father of three has contacted his family members in Ukraine but decided against sharing the incident with them, as he does not want them to worry.
Saiful Lizan said upon the Hazardous Materials Emergency Response division (Hazmat) unit's clearance, the search and rescue operation onboard will be conducted immediately.