A couple of days ago brought unfortunate news for the country’s defense, as the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) ship known as the KD Pendekar, sank completely. The ship sank at a position two nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Penyusop, Johor at 3:54 PM on Saturday, August 25, 2024.

All 39 crew members were successfully rescued and placed on the KD Sultan Ismail in Tanjung Pengelih, Johor. No injuries were reported.

TLDM had previously reported that their ship experienced a major leak and flooding during a mission operation. The leak is believed to have been caused by the ship striking a submerged object.

Leaks are a major cause of ships sinking, but in this article, we will look at other reasons why a ship may sink.

1. Collision with the seabed

Ships are powered by large marine engines that drive the propellers, while the ship’s direction is controlled by the rudder. There have been many reported incidents where the ship’s bottom collided with the seabed or rocks near the shore. A ship can sink if the collision is too forceful and causes a leak. Additionally, a ship is a very large structure and requires time to react. In fact, on average, a ship takes several hundred meters to come to a stop.

2. Loss of stability

All floating objects have a metacentric height, determined by the vertical distance between the metacentre (M) and the center of gravity (G). For a ship to remain stable, this quantity must remain positive. If this quantity becomes negative, the ship can capsize with very little force.

3. Bad weather

Bad weather is a common cause of shipwrecks and contributes to 75% of all accidents. Due to the vast open spaces at sea, wind speeds can become very high, leading to storms and hurricanes. These phenomena are capable of capsizing and sinking ships.

4. Human negligence and error

Lethargy, negligence, and small mistakes can contribute to accidents at sea. This can happen if the ship is not properly monitored or if the crew is fatigued. All of these factors can distract the crew and expose the ship to dangerous situations. If not addressed promptly, this can lead to disaster.

5. Component damage and poor maintenance

In the vast ocean, visibility can be limited due to low clouds or fog. Here, modern equipment helps ensure the ship’s direction and steering systems are in good condition. If not calibrated or maintained properly, these components cannot function as intended and pose a risk to the ship.

The same applies to mechanical components such as the propeller shaft, rudder, and propeller itself, all of which operate at high speeds. Maintenance is crucial to ensure there is no vibration or corrosion on their surfaces.

6. Damage due to war

During the early and mid-20th century world wars, hundreds of ships sank due to torpedoes, mines, and artillery fire. Even outside of wartime, the risk still exists, as it is said that there are still live mines and floating traps that pose a threat.

7. Negligence in docks and harbors

Docks and harbors are usually busy and narrow to maximize efficiency and operation. Because of this, ships need to be maneuvered accurately, sometimes with the assistance of tugboats. However, with the size of today’s large ships, there have been several accidents in ports that have caused ships to sink.

These are the seven main reasons a ship may sink that we can share. It should be noted that this list is for general knowledge and has no connection to the incident involving KD Pendekar. For reference, KD Pendekar was commissioned on August 21, 1979. It has a length of 43.62m, a width of 7.1m, and can operate continuously for seven days.

The armament on KD Pendekar includes Exocet MM38 missiles and Bofors 57mm and 40mm cannons. Together, we await further reports from the authorities regarding the incident involving KD Pendekar. Nonetheless, thank you and our highest respects to all the military personnel serving to safeguard our country’s security and sovereignty!