The KAYO (a general cargo ship, 92m long, 16m wide, IMO number: 9577331, flag: St. Kitts & Nevis, call sign: V4BV6) was en route transporting clay from Lumut port, Malaysia to Hon Gai, Quang Ninh, Vietnam. The ship had a total of 15 crew members, including 13 Vietnamese, 1 Indian, and 1 Bangladeshi.
At 23:21 on December 5th, 2025 (Vietnam time), while in the sea area at coordinates 05-20N; 104-13E (approximately 65 nautical miles east of the Malaysian coast), the KAYO listed 15 degrees to the right, becoming unstable. The captain contacted the authorities for assistance. At the time of the incident, the weather in the area was characterized by northeasterly winds of force 4-5 and waves 1-2 meters high.
Location of the KAYO vessel incident in Malaysian waters.
Immediately after receiving the distress call via the Hai Phong Coastal Information Station, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (under the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration, Ministry of Construction) contacted the Malaysia Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC), requesting the deployment of emergency assistance measures to ensure the safety of the KAYO crew. At the same time, the Center reported the incident to the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration and the National Civil Defense Steering Committee.
The crew members on board are ready with life-saving equipment.
The KAYO ship is listing 15 degrees to the starboard side.
Following a request from the Center, the Malaysian MRCC dispatched the coast guard vessel KM SEBATIK to approach the KAYO vessel to conduct safety monitoring and provide guidance to the vessel anchoring at coordinates: 04-59.40 N, 103-24.03 E, within the Kemaman port anchorage area of Malaysia. The KAYO vessel is awaiting a tugboat (arranged by the ship's agent in Malaysia) to assist it. 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 coordinated with Malaysia MRCC to assist Vietnamese crew members in distress in Malaysian waters. Earlier, on January 11th, 2025, the Center cooperated with Malaysia MRCC to successfully rescue 18 Vietnamese crew members on the vessel Dolphin 18, which had encountered an incident in Malaysian waters. The case demonstrates the Center’s capability to work with foreign search and rescue organizations in providing support and ensuring the safety of Vietnamese crew members.