PUBLISHED ONSeptember 03, 2026 2:54 AMBYSean LerA Malaysia-flagged ship hit the Sungai Johor Bridge on the Senai-Desaru Expressway in Kota Tinggi on Wednesday (Sept 2) afternoon.
Senai-Desaru Expressway Berhad (SDEB) said in a statement that the incident happened at about 2.30pm, adding that the vessel was removed at 3.16pm and that an inspection of the bridge was carried out.
@asiaone Hitting back at online claims, the operator of the Sungai Johor Bridge has confirmed that the structure remains safe following a vessel strike, and assuring motorists that the highway is secure. #Malaysia #MalaysiaNews #Maritime #Accident #Safety #Traffic ♬ original sound - AsiaOne
"The technical team's inspection found that the Sungai Johor Bridge is in a safe condition and does not affect the safety of road users," SDEB chief executive officer Mohamad Yasrib Mohamed Shariff said.
The authority also assured members of the public that it will continue to monitor the condition of the bridge's structure.
Pictures of the aftermath show the oil and chemical products tanker — SMF Ixora — "alongside" the bridge. Most of the vessel's superstructure remains below the road level.
The vessel is later seen being towed by two tugboats.
No injuries were reported in the incident.
Authorities have not said what caused the vessel to hit the bridge.
On Aug 12, a Singapore-registered container vessel, Nawata Bhum, struck a river embankment along the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India.
In that instance, it was reported that the ship's steering system purportedly became jammed.
This can happen due to mechanical blockages, hydraulic failures, or electrical control malfunctions that physically lock the rudder in place or prevent the actuators from moving.
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