Navy vessel with nine sailors missing off Johor waters (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: Nine Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) sailors are missing after their mother ship lost contact with them during an operation against illegal foreign fishermen, about 29 nautical miles off Tanjung Sedili in Johor on Saturday.
The boarding team, one officer and eight personnel of other ranks, were from RMN's fast-attack craft (missile) KD Perdana.
A statement released by the RMN said KD Perdana was on a routine patrol off the waters of Tanjung Sedili when they spotted foreign fishing vessels carrying out illegal activities in Malaysian waters.
"A boarding team boat carrying the nine sailors was launched from the KD Perdana to investigate the vessels. The boarding team was in the process of pursuing the foreign vessels before they went missing," the RMN said.
The RMN said the last location of the boat, before communications were lost, was about 29 nautical miles off Tanjung Sedili Besar. The weather was fine, with waves at between 1 and 1.5m in height while winds were reported to be between 20kph and 30kph.
It said KD Perdana, commissioned on Dec 21 1972, tried to search for the boat and its crew, before a search and rescue (SAR) operation, CARILAMAT, was launched by the Navy at 7.30pm on Sunday.
The SAR involves assets and personnel from the RMN, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the Sedili Fishermen Association.
Vessels involved in the search include RMN's KD Perdana, KD Perkasa, KD Pendekar, KD Handalan, KD Terengganu, KD Kelantan and two helicopters, a SuperLynx and a Fennec.
It added that the MMEA ships involved were KM Tegas, KM Tatau, KM Pekan, Bot Pengalang 39 and Bot Kilat 16.
The navy said CARILAMAT operations centre was activated at the RMN's Naval Region 1 Base at Tanjung Gelang, Kuantan.
RMN's statement added that it is believed that the boarding team could have sought shelter at nearby islands or with fishing vessels in the area.