Two Chinese tourists among three injured in boat collision off Semporna

SEMPORNA: Three people, including two Chinese tourists, were injured after their tourist boat suffered engine trouble and was rammed by another vessel near Pulau Singamata yesterday.

The incident occurred at 11.12am as the boat, carrying eight Chinese tourists, a skipper and three crew members, was travelling from Seafest Jetty to Pulau Bohey Dulang.

Semporna police chief Superintendent Tan Hiap Wah said the boat had stopped in the waters off Pulau Singamata after its engine became entangled in debris.

He said the vessel was struck from behind by another tourist boat while its crew were trying to remove the debris.

"The collision left two Chinese tourists, a 29-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, as well as one crew member of the first boat with minor injuries," he said in a statement today.

The first boat sustained damage to its rear section, while the skipper and a crew member of the second boat escaped unhurt. Their vessel was also undamaged.

Tan said police received a report from a 39-year-old local man who worked as a boat operator for a tourism company.

The case is being investigated under Section 280 of the Penal Code for negligent navigation of a vessel and Section 337 for causing hurt through an act endangering the life or personal safety of others.