The 130 meter long, 17669 dwt chemical tanker Samudera caught fire in the Malacca Strait near Pulau Kulup Island, Malaysia.  The tankere was headed to Chittagong, Bangladesh from Batam, Indonesia in ballast when the fire started in the vessel’s engine room.  The crew on board were unable to get the fire under control and sent out a distress call.   The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) dispatched rescue boats to the scene.  Rescuers were able  to save 22 of 23 crew on board the Samudera.   One crew man was reported lost in the blaze.   Reports state the fire was restricted to the engine room, but no effort to extinguish the blaze has been made by the authorities.   The vessel was proceeding to Chittagong where it was to be scrapped.