Cargo ship sinks in Penang waters

GEORGE TOWN: A huge Hong Kong cargo vessel sustained about RM3.5million in losses after it was partially sunk as the ship ran into the wreckage of previous shipwrecks off the waters off Permatang Damar Laut at the south of Penang island early today.
The 6.30am incident, involving the 43.6m of cargo known as Xin Yi Yi had caused panic among those onboard after it was half submerged in the waters off the coast.
Fortunately, four Chinese nationals and a Hong Kong national inside the ship were rescued by the Batu Uban marine police after the incident, according to the Penang Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) spokesman.
MMEA's spokesman said the maritime agency did not deploy any assets to rescue the crew inside the vessel.
Southwest district police chief ACP A. Anbalagan said the rescued crew members did not sustain injuries in the incident.
"No fatalities were reported," he said in a statement to the media.
Marine police are also monitoring the area of the incident to determine if it had caused an oil spill.