Car Carrier Catches Fire Off Malaysian Coast, 19 Crew Members Rescued Safely

A car carrier named Malaysia Star caught fire off the coast of Johor on December 2, 2024. The incident happened about 9 nautical miles from Tanjung Laboh, Batu Pahat, around 8:40 a.m.

The vessel was on its way from Port Klang to Kota Kinabalu, carrying 19 crew members, 18 Filipinos and 1 Malaysian.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) immediately dispatched two patrol boats and a Marine Police vessel to the scene after receiving the alert.

Thick smoke was seen billowing from the ship, with the fire dangerously close to the fuel tanks. Given the high risk, the crew was immediately evacuated.

All 19 crew members were safely transferred to a patrol boat and brought to shore without any injuries.

Malaysia Star — Image Credits: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency/Facebook

Commander Mohammad Zaini Zainal Abidin from the Batu Pahat Maritime Zone confirmed the safe evacuation and said, “So far, no reports of oil spills have been received.”

Firefighting operations are still ongoing, and authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, but the Malaysia Star had a history of safety issues. In June, during an inspection in Bangladesh, authorities flagged problems with the ship’s fire detection system and dampers.

Earlier inspections had also found issues with oil and dirty mixtures in the machinery spaces.

The vessel, built in China in 1992, is locally registered and has a capacity of 1,466 vehicles. While no oil spill has been reported, maritime authorities continue monitoring the area to ensure environmental safety.

The focus remains on fully extinguishing the fire and investigating what caused it.

Reference: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency

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