14 speedboat passengers rescued after boat engine fails
LABUAN: Fourteen passengers taking a daily morning trip to Labuan from Menumbok yesterday had frightening and anxious moments when the speedboat broke down in galeforce winds and began drifting in stormy seas.
All of them, most of whom are working on the duty-free-island, began to frantically contact the Labuan Marine Department to report what they claimed was a nerve-wracking and frightening experience.
One passenger, Rosli Amir, 45, said the incident was unexpected as the journey was smooth when it departed from Menumbok jetty about 8 am.
“Upon reaching the waters of Pulau Daat, the boat suddenly experienced engine failure. The skipper tried to fix the engine but to no avail, and the boat began to slowly drift towards the waters between Pulau Daat and Pulau Papan for about an hour.
“In that panicky moment, we immediately put on the life jackets for safety as it was a scary experience,” he said when met at the Labuan jetty.
A Labuan Marine Department spokesman said they received a distress call from one of the passengers at about 8.30 am and immediately alerted the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for a search and rescue operation (SAR).
MMEA Labuan enforcement chief Maritime Captain Che Adnan Mad Isa said all the passengers were safely retrieved at around 9 am, transferred to the agency's patrol boat and sent to Labuan jetty.
A woman passenger sustained minor leg injuries when she accidentally stepped on the narrow part between the two boats during the transfer process and received immediate treatment.
“We continuously remind boat operators to inspect their boat and engine condition and take necessary safety precautions before setting out to sea to prevent untoward incidents like this, as passenger safety must be given priority,” said Adnan.