Basarnas Searches for Cargo Ship Crew Member Who Fell into Java Sea Near Seribu Islands

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has deployed a rescue team aboard the KN Antasena to search for a crew member of a cargo ship who reportedly fell overboard in the waters of the Java Sea, off the Seribu Islands, Jakarta.

Head of the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office, Desiana Kartika, stated on Tuesday that the missing person has been identified as Ramo Edwin Nuguid (54), a Filipino national serving as Chief Officer on the MV EVER BIRTH.

Desiana explained that the Panama-flagged cargo vessel was en route from Shekou, China, to Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta. The crew only realised the officer was missing as the ship was preparing to drop anchor in the Jakarta-L Anchorage Zone on Monday (13/7) at around 2:30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time.

After failing to contact the officer, the crew conducted a thorough search of every compartment on the vessel and reviewed CCTV footage. Based on the footage, the ship’s management confirmed that the officer is strongly suspected to have fallen overboard at around 12:20 p.m.

Desiana added that today’s search operation, Tuesday (14/7), is focused on sweeping the area around the incident site with a search radius of up to 100 nautical miles. In addition to the physical search, Basarnas has broadcast an information bulletin via maritime radio to commercial vessels transiting the surrounding Java Sea waters, requesting them to keep a lookout for the victim.

This humanitarian operation involves a joint SAR team from the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office, the Seribu Islands SAR Post, the Sea and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP), the Tanjung Priok Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), and the Tanjung Priok Harbour Master and Port Authority Office (KSOP).