KMP Mutiara Sentosa Fire: AHY Says Passenger Safety is Top Priority
JAKARTA – Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) has expressed condolences and deep concern over the fire aboard KMP Mutiara Sentosa in waters north of Madura. AHY hopes all victims receive the best possible treatment.
“At the same time, the government is immediately conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident, whilst ensuring that passenger safety remains the top priority in the provision of sea transport,” AHY said in a written statement in Jakarta on Sunday (2/8/2026).
In response to the incident, AHY said the Ministry of Transport, through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation together with the Search and Rescue (SAR) team, will continue to ensure the evacuation process and verification of passenger data.
“In general, first, the Ministry of Transport, in this case the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, is still continuously verifying the passenger data resulting from the evacuation, working together with the SAR team and patrol vessels,” AHY said.
AHY stressed that the government will immediately carry out an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident.
“The government is promptly launching an investigation, because we must know precisely what caused the incident,” he asserted.
Regarding sea transport safety, AHY emphasised the importance of re-examining the condition of vessels, human resources, including crew and passengers, as well as weather factors.
“The investigation will be carried out by KNKT, the National Transportation Safety Committee, and it will take time to explain to us all what the cause was,” AHY continued.
AHY asserted that safety must be the top priority in the provision of sea transport. According to him, the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs), fixed procedures (protap), weather mitigation, and the assurance of vessel seaworthiness must be continuously strengthened so that similar incidents do not recur.
The government is also continuing to encourage the rejuvenation of the fleet to improve safety and the quality of sea transport services.
“We want to ensure that with regard to sea transport, safety first — this is something we must guarantee. SOPs are implemented, fixed procedures are implemented, passenger safety comes first, and the weather must of course be mitigated. Beyond that, we want to ensure that vessels are always in seaworthy condition, free of technical problems, and our commitment is indeed to continuously rejuvenate our fleet,” AHY said.