KAYO (a general cargo ship, 92 meters long, 16 meters wide, IMO number: 9577331, flag: St. Kitts & Nevis, call sign: V4BV6) was on its way to transport clay from Lumut port, Malaysia to Hon Gai, Quang Ninh, Vietnam. There were a total of 15 crew members on board, including 13 Vietnamese crew members, 01 Indian crew member and 01 Bangladeshi crew member.

At 23:21 on December 5, 2025 (Vietnam time), when arriving at the sea area with coordinates 05-20N; 104-13E (about 65 nautical miles east of the Malaysian coast), the KAYO ship tilted 15 degrees to the right, lost stability, the Captain urgently contacted for assistance. At the time of the incident, the weather in the area had Northeast winds of level 4-5, waves 1-2 meters high.

Immediately after receiving the distress report via the Hai Phong Coastal Information Station, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (under the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration, Ministry of Construction) contacted the Malaysia Search and Rescue Coordination Center (Malaysia MRCC), requesting the deployment of emergency support measures to ensure the safety of the KAYO crew. At the same time, the Center reported to the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration and the National Civil Defense Steering Committee.

Upon receiving a request from the Center, Malaysia MRCC dispatched the Coast Guard vessel KM SEBATIK to approach the KAYO to conduct safety monitoring and guide the vessel to anchor at the coordinates: 04-59.40 N, 103-24.03 E, in the Kemaman Port anchorage area of ​​Malaysia. The KAYO is waiting for a tugboat (arranged by the ship agent in Malaysia) to assist the vessel. All crew members on board the KAYO are safe, in good health, and do not require medical assistance.

This is one of the cases in which the Center has coordinated with Malaysia MRCC to support Vietnamese crew members in distress in Malaysian waters. Previously, on January 11, 2025, the Center coordinated with Malaysia MRCC to successfully rescue 18 Vietnamese crew members on the Dolphin 18 ship, a Vietnamese national who had an accident in Malaysian waters. The incident is a testament to the ability to coordinate with foreign search and rescue organizations in supporting and ensuring the safety of Vietnamese crew members.

Source: Vietnam Maritime Administration