By DayakDaily Team
DALAT, Dec 22: A Russian-owned yacht named Pilgrim ran aground on a sandbar at Kuala Oya beach yesterday due to bad weather and a navigational equipment (GPS) malfunction.
According to a news report by TVS, the incident occurred around 8pm when strong waves, high winds, and heavy rain struck the area. Despite the challenging conditions, all four crew members were able to save themselves and take shelter on land.
Dalat District Police chief DSP Saga Chunggat confirmed that authorities received a report from a member of the public who observed the vessel stuck on the sandbar about 50 to 100 metres from the shore.
“We immediately contacted the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Bintulu, the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Kuching, as well as the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Mukah and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Dalat,” he said in a statement.
However, the rough sea conditions prevented both the police and locals from providing immediate assistance to the crew.
Officers and team members rushed to the scene but were unable to approach the stranded vessel, located approximately 100 metres from the shore, due to the severe weather.
“As the police surveyed the situation from the Kuala Oya site, they spotted a light on the yacht, and the crew also activated a red flare as a distress signal,” Saga added.
Around 10pm, when the rain began to ease, Saga said a police team led by Inspector Zulhilmi Panggis, assisted by villagers, trekked 300 metres through the forest along the beach.
“They successfully located all four crew members, who were safe and taking shelter on the beach,” he said.
“The crew, all Russian nationals, were found unharmed after using their life raft to reach the shore and shelter from the waves and strong winds,” he explained.
The crew members did not require immediate police assistance, as they were simply waiting for the tide to rise to allow them to depart the sandbar.
“They only requested assistance from a tugboat to tow their stranded vessel,” Saga said.
He also noted that the four Russian crew members had valid passports and documents, and they fully cooperated with the police during interviews to determine the cause of the incident.
It is understood that the yacht had sailed from the Philippines, made a stop in Labuan, and was en route to Kuching. — DayakDaily
