KN SAR Bhisma Deployed to Search for Speedboat Missing in Gorontalo
The KN SAR Bhisma has been deployed to search for a speedboat that lost contact while sailing in the Gulf of Tomini, Gorontalo Province. The speedboat was carrying 11 foreign tourists, a captain, and a crew member when it went missing on Friday (24/7).
“Yes, the KN SAR Bhisma has been deployed to search for the speedboat carrying 11 foreign tourists, the captain, and the crew,” said the Head of the Palu Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), Muh Rizal, on Saturday (25/7).
The KN SAR Bhisma, carrying personnel from the Luwuk SAR Post rescue team, departed for the scene at 09:40 WITA.
“The KN SAR Bhisma has been moving to the location since this morning to conduct the search operation and is expected to arrive tonight around 19:40 WITA,” he stated.
The speedboat had departed from Tojo Una-Una on Friday at approximately 07:30 WITA, bound for Marisa Port in Gorontalo Province. The Head of Basarnas Gorontalo, Heriyanto, explained that the vessel was estimated to have been sailing for about 20 nautical miles when it lost contact.
“We estimate the boat had sailed around 20 nautical miles from Tojo Una-Una towards Marisa Port. That is our estimate,” he said.
Earlier, the joint SAR team was unable to deploy due to adverse weather conditions. “The weather last night was not supportive because the waves were quite high, between 1.5 and 2.5 metres,” Heriyanto told reporters on Friday.
The 11 foreign tourists and two Indonesian crew members on board have been identified as:
Ferdiansyah (29, male)
Arif (27, male)
Milan Kasik (55, male)
Rani Permentier (30, female)
Mathijs Sercu (29, male)
Jelka Van Driesum (16, female)
Hinke Van Deer (59, female)
Roeland Van Driesum (61, male)
Age Van Driesum (18, male)
Hector Fabio Prange (20, male)
Ronny Josue Prange (13, male)