Tourists making their was out from the catamaran after being stranded for nearly nine hours at sea.
KOTA KINABALU: About 120 tourists, including children, were stranded in rough seas for nearly nine hours when the catamaran that was transporting them back from Mantanani Island in Kota Belud developed engine trouble on Saturday evening.
The catamaran, belonging to a local company, was transporting the tourists mostly from China back to the state capital when its engines broke down around 6pm on Saturday, about 40 nautical miles from here.
The tourists had left Sabah Parks jetty behind Wisma Merdeka shopping mall here around 8am on Saturday for Mantanani Island for picnic and snorkeling activities.
They departed from the island at around 5pm for the state capital but two of the catamaran’s engines broke down, leaving the boat adrift until they were rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
A spokesperson for MMEA said theyreceived information on the stranded catamaran at 9.15pm and a rescue operation was immediately launched.
“A Maritime Malaysia vessel that was on patrol near the area immediately responded to the SRS (search and rescue operation) and managed to locate the catamaran about 40 nautical miles from Kota Kinabalu.
“Another catamaran was deployed to tow the first catamaran back to Sabah Park Jetty under escort by the Maritime Malaysia vessel.
“The catamaran arrived safely at around 3.30am yesterday,” said the spokesperson, adding that no one was reported injured.
Several tour operators were seen waiting patiently at Sabah Parks Jetty for the arrival of their customers since 1am.
The tour operators even brought fried chicken packets and bottled mineral water for the stranded tourists.
At around 3.30am the catamaran, towed by another catamaran and escorted by the Maritime Malaysia vessel, limped towards the Sabah Parks Jetty.
Looking tired and restless, the tourists climbed down from the catamaran and were immediately greeted by their respective tour operators.
They were given food and drinks before being taken back to their respective hotels.
A team from the Sabah Civil Defence Department (JPAM) was also at the scene to provide assistance but none of the tourists were reported injured.
It was also learnt that most of the tourists were expected to return to their country, yesterday morning.
A tourist from China, identified only as Wong, 30s, said he and five other friends arrived at the state capital on Monday for a holiday.
“Among the places that were on our itinerary was Mantanani Island.
“We left Kota Kinabalu around 8am on Saturday, and departed from the island at around 5pm.
“About one hour later while on our way back, the catamaran skipper informed us that there was a problem with the vessel’s engines,” he said, adding that everyone panicked momentarily but the skipper and crewmen were able to assure and keep everyone calm.
Wong said, everyone, including himself, became seasick after being adrift in the sea for almost nine hours.
A local tourist, Mohd Razailli Mohd Tali, 28, said, he and four other friends chose Mantanani Island for their weekend holiday but never expected that such an incident would happen.
“I remember that on our way to Mantanani Island, one of the crewmen told us that they had encountered a small problem with one of the engines, but we managed to reach the island on schedule.
“But while on our way back, the crewman once again told us that one of the engines had broken down but they still proceeded to return to Kota Kinabalu.
“I cannot remember much after that as I was feeling seasick but I remembered that the catamaran was not moving at around 7pm,” he said, adding that he was glad that everyone made it back safely.
“This is something that was not in our holiday list,” Mohd Razailli added with a smile.