JOHOR BAHRU, January 12- A total of 14 foreign crew members of a tanker were successfully rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Maritime Malaysia) after the vessel caught fire four nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Piai, Pontian near here this morning.

Johor State Maritime Acting Director, Maritime Captain Kama Azri Kamil said Johor Bahru's Maritime Rescue Sub Center (MRSC) activated a search and rescue operation (Carilamat) at 9.25am, after receiving information about the incident from the Maritime Vessel (KM) SATRIA.

KM Satria, KM Tambisan and Boat Kilat 18 from Maritime Malaysia State of Johor had been directed to the scene of the incident to coordinate Op Carilamat, with two boats from the Marine Police Force (PPM) Region Two and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).

He explained that the fire was successfully controlled and no oil spill has been detected so far.

"The tanker, registered from Mongolia, was operated by 15 crew members from Myanmar, Indonesia and Singapore aged between 22 and 73 years old.

"A total of 14 crew members were rescued and taken to the Johor State Maritime Jetty while an Indonesian crew member was swept into the waters of Singapore," he said in a statement today.

Kama Azri said that the authorities of the republic had found the victim who had drifted away.

However the victim was reported to be unconscious and was taken to a hospital for further treatment.