1st LD Writethru: Malaysia deploys divers to search for missing crew from capsized sand dredger

MUAR, Malaysia, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Divers have been deployed while air being pumped into the sand dredger that capsized in the waters off Malaysia in the Malacca Strait to search for the missing crew members, officials said Thursday.

Zulkifili Abu Bakar, director general of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the country's coast guard, said the rescuers were towing the capsized vessel to the shallow waters nearer to the shore where it could "sit" on the seabed.

Once the ship is stabilized, divers would get into the ship to rescue those trapped inside. Some of the 14 missing crew members are believed to be trapped inside the ship as knocking sound were heard.

Zulkifili said those missing might be trapped inside the engine room.

"Before we send in the divers, the ship must be stable and not to sway. If it is not stable, that would not only endanger those we want to rescue but also our divers," he told a press conference.

If the ship could not be stabilized, the rescuers would have to tow the ship further closer to the shore where it could run aground, Zulkifili said, pointing out that this would take more time.

"What is important is the time," he said, adding that the operation would be conducted day and night.

Officials said earlier that air was being pumped into the ship to keep it afloat.

The Malaysian navy have sent 23 divers and more than 100 personnel to join the search and rescue operations with personnel and divers from MMEA, marine police, firefighters and professional divers.

"The divers will be facing challenges as there would be many objects floating inside a capsized vessel, as well as difficulty to open hatch doors due to air pressure,"said Tay Yap Leong, commander of the navy's diving team.

The Chinese embassy in Malaysia said its officials had arrived at the search and rescue operation center to coordinate the efforts. Search and rescue personnel from China have also arrived in Malaysia and joined the operations.

Malaysia launched search and rescue operations after a sand dredging vessel capsized Wednesday in the waters off its southern Johor state, leaving at least one dead and 14 crew members missing.

Among the 16 Chinese crew members, one was dead, 12 were missing while three were rescued. A Malaysian and an Indonesian were also onboard, who were also missing. Enditem