KM Samudra Jaya Goes Missing in Anambas Waters En Route to Batam
The motor vessel KM Samudra Jaya Kelautan, which sailed from Air Sena, Tarempa, in the Anambas Islands Regency, heading to Batam, has been reported to have lost contact in the Anambas waters. The four crew members aboard the vessel are still the subject of an ongoing search.
The Natuna Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas) immediately deployed a Joint SAR Team using the Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) 02 Natuna to conduct a search operation after receiving the report of lost contact from the Indonesian Fishermen’s Association (HNSI) of Anambas Islands Regency on Monday (3/8).
The head of the Class B Natuna Search and Rescue Office, Abdul Rahman, said KM Samudra Jaya Kelautan is a 10 gross tonne (GT) vessel that departed from Air Sena for Batam on Saturday (1/8) at 09.00 Western Indonesian Time, carrying a cargo of fish.
The vessel was scheduled to arrive in Batam on Sunday (2/8/2026) at 08.00 Western Indonesian Time. However, by the appointed time, the ship had not arrived and could not be reached, and was therefore reported as having lost contact.
“As soon as we received the report, we deployed the Anambas SAR Post together with relevant units. At 11.25 Western Indonesian Time, the Joint SAR Team using RIB 02 Natuna was dispatched to the last known position, some 60 nautical miles from the Anambas SAR Post, to carry out the search operation,” he said when contacted by journalists on Tuesday (4/8).
The four crew members aboard the vessel have been identified as Samsul Bahri (54), Azan (41), Awang (65), and Handay Yadi (40).
To widen the search area, Basarnas Natuna sent coordination telegrams to the Tanjungpinang SAR Office, the Tarempa Naval Base, the Tarempa Coastal Radio Station (SROP), the Kijang SROP, the Batam Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), and the Natuna Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), requesting them to conduct monitoring along the vessel’s shipping route.
The search operation involves the Anambas SAR Post, the Tarempa Naval Base, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Anambas Islands Regency, the Tarempa SROP, and the HNSI of Anambas Islands Regency. All personnel are equipped with water SAR equipment, medical supplies, and communication devices to support the search effort.
Basarnas has also appealed to fishermen, vessel captains, and members of the public active in the waters between Anambas and Tanjungpinang, particularly at coordinates 02°18.000’ N – 105°36.000’ E, to promptly report to the authorities if they see any signs of KM Samudra Jaya or its four crew members.
“Any information, however small, is very meaningful to us. We hope all maritime users can help by reporting if they find the vessel or see any signs of the victims,” he said.
As of the time of writing, the Joint SAR Team was still combing the search area and continuing efforts to locate KM Samudra Jaya and its four crew members in a safe condition.