Malaysian and Vietnamese authorities responded to a report of a commercial vessel that had developed a severe list while underway some 65 nautical miles off the coast of Malaysia on Friday, December 5.
The Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged general cargo vessel Kayo was en route from Malaysia's Lumut Port to Hon Gai in Vietnam with a cargo of clay when it began to list heavily to starboard shortly after 00:00 local time on Friday.
The crew sent out a distress call, which was received by the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). Personnel at the MRCC then informed their counterparts in Malaysia, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency patrol vessel KM Sebatik was deployed to the area shortly afterwards.
The patrol vessel then escorted the cargo ship away from the area to the anchorage just off Kemaman Port on Malaysia's east coast, where she has remained since.
No injuries have been reported among Kayo's crew, which included one Indian, one Bangladeshi and 13 Vietnamese nationals.