A luxury riverboat belonging to Pandaw Cruises has sunk off the coast of Malaysia.
The RV Saigon Pandaw was undergoing an ocean transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore, when it sank in rough seas. It was on its way to Yangon, where it would have been renamed ‘Sagaing’ and deployed on Pandaw’s Irrawaddy and Chindwin river cruises.
Pandaw said the riverboat was being tugged when it went down, and that no-one was onboard.
“We are still awaiting the results of the official investigation but we are told that the hull became swamped with water and capsized in heavy seas,” said the company’s founder, Paul Strachan. “The Saigon… was a much loved ship by all who sailed in her.”
Following the loss, Pandaw now has a fleet of 11 boats, including two – Kindat Pandaw and the Kalaw Pandaw – that are currently under construction and due to be deployed in Myanmar this summer. As such, Pandaw said it still has enough capacity to meet demand for its Myanmar cruises.
The RV Saigon Pandaw was only three-years-old, and had a capacity of 60 passengers. Pandaw said it has already contacted all passengers booked on the vessel and offered alternative cruises or full refunds.
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