Salvage operations underway after Malaysia naval vessel sinks off coast of Johor, no injuries reported

Salvage operations are underway after a Malaysian naval vessel sank off the coast of Johor on Sunday (Aug 25). All crew members are safe. 

The ship, KD Pendekar, sank at 3.54pm, two nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Penyusop in Kota Tinggi, the Royal Malaysian Navy (TDLM) said in a statement on Sunday evening.

The navy added that all 39 crew members were rescued before the ship was completely submerged, and no injuries were reported.

The ship is believed to have hit an unknown underwater object, causing a leak that resulted in “severe flooding”, the navy said in an earlier statement. 

The leak was first detected in the ship’s engine room, spreading rapidly despite efforts to control and stabilise the ship.