MALAYSIA STAR

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Vehicles still aboard months after fire

The owners of the 'Malaysia Star' have cited legal and financial obligations as the primary reasons why vehicles aboard the vessel have yet to be released following a recent fire. Their lawyers issued a statement on Feb 27, 2025, stating the vessel's owners are required to collect general average and salvage security before any vehicles can be returned to their owners. These securities are meant to compensate affected cargo owners whose vehicles were damaged in the incident, as well as the salvors who played a role in saving the ship and its cargo. The shipowners must maintain a lien over the vehicles, meaning they cannot release them until sufficient security is provided. The owners asserted that they were merely complying with legal obligations and have no option but to hold onto the vehicles until the necessary payments from all vehicle owners are secured. They also clarified that the fire, which broke out on board, was linked to one of the cars loaded onto the vessel, though investigations into the exact cause were ongoing. The owners have set up a hotline for legal assistance and were planning to hold townhall sessions to explain the complexities of the general average and salvage process. On Feb 25, the Transport Ministry facilitate a resolution in this matter, the a fire on Dec 2, 2024 had left nearly 1,000 vehicles stranded at Port Klang.

Fire in Malacca Strait

The 'Malaysia Star' caught fire en route from Port Klang to Kota Kinabalu, with 19 crew members on board in the Malacca Strait on Dec 2, 2024. The wMalaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) was notified at 8:40 a.m. LT, when the vessel was sailing around 9.1 nautical miles off Tanjung Laboh. A Maritime police force boat and two Patrol boats from the MMEA promptly sent to the scene. the vessel dropped anchor off the coast Batu Pahat Johor, near the southern tip of the peninsula, in pos. 01° 36' N 102° 54' E. The 18 Pinoys and one Malaysian crew members were transferred to the patrol boats and then taken to the Batu Pahat Maritime Zone Jetty. The fire had ignited near the vessel’s fuel tank and has required intense firefighting efforts. The cause of the fire was not known, but the vessel has been cited during Port State inspections. In June the authorities in Bangladesh identified issues with the fire detection system and fire dampers. In two prior Port State inspections the authorities listed deficiencies with oil and dirty mixtures from the machinery spaces. Report with photos: https://maritime-executive.com/article/malaysia-evacuates-crew-from-burning-car-carrier