KD Pendekar successfully refloated – navy

The navy vessel KD Pendekar, which sank on Aug 25 after suffering a leak was successfully refloated on Saturday.

In a statement yesterday, the navy informed that the ship was successfully refloated at 4.38pm through a salvage operation that was completed despite several challenges.

“The location of the shipwreck is now confirmed to be safe and there are no ammunition or explosives that could threaten the safety of the maritime community, especially those who often use the waters.

“The future of the ships that are over 45 years old will be decided together with the 'Phasing In-Phasing Out' plan of obsolete ships that are still in service as a whole in line with the Alignment of the 15to5 Navy Transformation Plan,” it said.

The ship is undergoing preliminary repairs, and the investigation board is probing the cause and factors that led to the incident, the navy added.

On Aug 25, KD Pendekar was reported to have struck a submerged object and started flooding before it sank in the South China Sea two nautical miles Southeast of Tanjung Penyusop, in Kota Tinggi, Johor on the same day.

Three days later, navy personnel Arman San Hermansa was reported to have died while recovering the wreckage of KD Pendekar.

- Bernama

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