House Demands Comprehensive Audit of Passenger Ships After KM Mutiara Sentosa 2 Fire
A member of the House of Representatives Commission V, Irine Yusiana Roba Putri, has urged the Ministry of Transportation to immediately conduct a comprehensive safety audit of all long-distance passenger ship fleets after a fire broke out on the ferry KM Mutiara Sentosa 2 in the northern waters of Sumenep, Madura, East Java, on Sunday. Irine believes a thorough evaluation is necessary, especially for ships that carry both passengers and logistics vehicles. She stated that safety aspects must be the top priority in the provision of public transportation. ‘Loss of life in public transport services is a tragedy that cannot be considered ordinary,’ Irine said in Jakarta on Monday.
She also requested that the investigation carried out by the National Transportation Safety Committee and the East Java Regional Police be comprehensive and transparent. The examination, she said, must cover the chronology of events, the condition of the ship’s electrical and engine systems, compliance with passenger manifests, and the readiness of safety facilities, such as lifeboats and life jackets, which became a focus of passenger panic at the scene. If the investigation finds negligence in the implementation of operational procedures or ship maintenance by the operator, Irine insisted that sanctions must be imposed in accordance with applicable regulations.
‘I have often conveyed in meetings with the government the importance of supervision and budget support for shipping connectivity. This is because I am from North Maluku, an archipelagic province, which understands the vital importance of ferries for people’s lives,’ she said. Irine further highlighted the importance of the Surabaya–Makassar shipping route as one of the main corridors for logistics distribution and public mobility. She reminded all stakeholders to ensure safety standards are maintained so that public trust in sea transportation does not decline due to negligence. She also expressed her deepest condolences to the families of the victims who died in the tragedy.
In addition to offering condolences, Irine expressed appreciation to the joint SAR team, the Surabaya Basarnas, the harbormaster, the police, and the crew of commercial ships near the scene. She noted that the rapid response of various parties played a crucial role in the evacuation and rescue of hundreds of passengers. The KM Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire on Sunday between 06:00 and 07:00 Western Indonesian Time while sailing in the northern waters of Sumenep in the Java Sea. A report on the incident was received around 08:30 WIB. Upon receiving the information, the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, through SROP Kalianget, immediately disseminated the accident information and coordinated with Basarnas to conduct a search and rescue operation. The Ministry of Transportation also deployed the patrol vessel KPLP KN Grantin P.211 to the scene, while KN Masalembo was prepared to strengthen the on-site response. The evacuation process was assisted by several nearby vessels, including TB Hasnur 26, KM Prakarsa Mas, KM Meratus Pematang Siantar, and MT Transco Arafura, enabling a faster and more coordinated rescue effort.