LABUAN – The body of a tugboat crew member, believed to have fallen into the sea when the boat was anchored in the waters off Pulau Papan yesterday, was found at 7.45am today.
The body was located 20-m south of Labuan’s ferry jetty.
Labuan Maritime Zone director Nudin Jusoh said the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre in Kota Kinabalu activated the search-and-rescue operation at about 9.40pm after receiving information related to the incident from the Maritime Operations Centre of the Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
He said the man was identified as Kenneth Anak Saing, 33, who worked on the local tugboat Tanjung Biru 1 and was reported missing by a friend after he was last seen at 6pm yesterday.
“All his personal items were found on the tugboat which was said to have been anchored before continuing its journey to Miri, Sarawak,” he said in a statement here today.
Nudin said as soon as the search-and-rescue operation was activated, an MMEA patrol boat was dispatched to the scene.
“The operation involved assistance from assets and members of the Marine Police Force, Fire and Rescue Department, and the Civil Defence Force,” he said.
The victim's body has been handed over to police’s forensics unit for further investigation.
The MMEA reminds the public to report any emergencies or accidents at sea to MERS 999 or the Labuan Maritime Zone operations centre at 087-427-999. – Bernama, June 23, 2023
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