[BREAKING] Malaysian Navy Combat Vessel CB204 Is Missing In Sabah Waters

The Royal Malaysian Navy has located its gunboat CB204 which was reported missing off the coast of Sabah since early this monring. Navy chief Abdul Aziz Jaafar in a Twitter posting said one of the search and rescue vessels received a distress call at about 3pm, reporting engine malfunction and a spoilt steering gear.

He said the search and rescue ships KD Ganas and KD Lekiu are on their way to the location. Abdul Aziz has yet to explain why the boat could not be contacted for more than 13 hours since it went missing.

He had earlier this morning confirmed that the gunboat CB204 with seven crew members was lost during rough seas. At about 12.35pm, he said that a ship had been sent to investigate the sighting of a boat floating off near Pulau Mengalum.

Abdul Aziz said two planes from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) joined the search and rescue operations at about 9.30am and 10.30am, along with six ships already out at sea. The rough weather including low rain clouds had not allowed planes to be launched earlier.

The Royal Malaysian Navy has released the names of the seven crew members on board missing Combat Vessel CB204. The seven are: Lt Azri Bakar (captain), BK PAP Christopher ak Mani, BM TMK Ince ak Evin, BM TMK Steven Hudson ak Miso, BM JTP Nor Azuan Ariffin, LK KOM Sulhajji Daah and LK PAP Mohd Azhry Maani.

The navy is expected to hold a press conference to update the public on the ongoing search and rescue operation, spanning 135 nautical miles around Mengalum Island and near the Spratly Islands. RMN Chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar told Bernama that he believed that the crew on the vessel were safe, due to CB204’s safety features and floating ability.

astroawani.com

Abdul Aziz said the boat can function even under extreme bad weather conditions and even if the vessel turns turtle after being lashed by huge waves, it can return to its normal position automatically. “I believe the combat vessel and the seven crew members are safe. The vessel’s floating ability is par excellence but I hope there was no leak in the boat due to the extreme weather conditions,” he told Bernama.

themalaysianinsider.com

CB204 lost contact with its base at 11.15am while cruising to islands off Sabah waters. The vessel’s last known position was 20 nautical miles east of Mengalum Island. It departed from the Kota Kinabalu Naval Base with navy ship KD Paus at 5am Sunday, en route to the Spratly Islands.

Rough weather is hampering the search and rescue (SAR) operation for Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) combat vessel CB204, which went missing Sunday. RMN Chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar tweeted Monday that rough waters and low rain clouds were making the process more difficult.

"CB204. Till 0800, has not been found. KD Lekiu, KD Serang, KM Berani and KM Mabul continuing search,"he tweeted, referring to the vessels involved in the operation.

asiaone.com

CB204, CB90-type of combat vessel, lost contact with its base at 11.15am while cruising to islands off Sabah waters. The vessel's last known position was 20 nautical miles east of Mengalum Island off Sabah.

Commanded by Lt Azri Bakar with seven crew members, CB204 departed Kota Kinabalu at about 5am with another naval ship, KD Paus. At 10.30am, the Marine Region Headquarters received a call from KD Paus informing that the two vessels were turning back due to bad weather.

asiaone.com

A Navy combat vessel, CB 204, has reportedly lost contact while on "routine tasking" off Sabah on Sunday. CB 204's last known position at 1.05pm Sunday is said to be 20 nautical miles east of Mengalum Island off Sabah.

At 10.30am, the operating room of the Wilayah Laut II headquarters (MWL 2) had received a call from KD Paus informing the ship and gunboat would be turning back to the PTKK due to bad weather.

astroawani.com

However, at 1.05pm, KD Paus failed to establish communication with the gunboat. The ship then launched a search between Pulau Mengalum and Pulau Gaya but was unsuccessful.

astroawani.com

Navy chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said he does not expect foul play in the disappearance of the vessel. He said the cause was most likely due to bad weather or engine or power failure which causes communication breakdown.