Malaysian LNG Tanker Encounters Engine Trouble Off Palawan (Philippines)

January 25, 2011

A Malaysian registered Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker encountered engine trouble off-Palawan after being battered by rough seas, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.

PCG identified the Malaysian registered liquefied natural gas tanker vessel as PURERI SAMRUD, a 86,205 Gross Tonnage / 25,861 Net Tonnage, 273 meters in length and 45 meters in breadth LNG tanker.

A total of thirty three (33) crew members were reported to be on-board the said vessel when it encountered engine trouble while sailing Philippine waters at approximately 25 nautical miles off Isabel Pt., Palawan on January 23, 2011.

Reports from Coast Guard Action Center in Manila disclosed that on January 23, 2011 at 9:00 AM, a telephone call was received from a certain Captain Kevin Joseph Mztin of MSC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that said tanker vessel was in distress. Said vessel was en-route to Korea from Bintulu, Malaysia when it encountered rough seas and bad weather condition.

PCG Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo immediately directed Coast Guard District Palawan to conduct Search and Rescue (SAR) operations to M/T PURERI SAMRUD. PCG SAR Vessel BRP EDSA DOS (SARV 002) was also dispatched from Puerto Princesa to render assistance to the said distressed vessel.

The Coast Guard Action Center also coordinated for the availability of AFP/PN/PAF assets in the area and the availability of tugboats to render towing assistance if necessary. The PCG has also issued Notice to Mariners relative to the incident and alerted the Coast Guard Air Group for dispatch of aircraft. Supply Oilfield Services (SOS) Inc. reported to the PCG that it has dispatched M/V PACIFIC ARIKI on January 23, 2011 at 9:30pm to render assistance to the Malaysian LNG tanker.

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Source: Philippine Information Agency, January 25, 2010;