Moments of KM Ocean Three Crew Found Alive, Floating Using Fish Cooler Box Lid in Natuna Waters
A joint search and rescue (SAR) team in Natuna Regency, Riau Islands Province, has found one of the missing crew members of the KM Ocean Three alive. The survivor was found floating at sea while clinging to a yellow fibreglass fish cooler box lid.
Head of the Natuna SAR Office (KPP/SAR) Abdul Rahman confirmed that the rescued individual is the vessel’s captain, Wan Zaidan (47). He was discovered in a weakened state holding onto the yellow lid at coordinates 3°40.299’N 108°20.947’E. The discovery was made by the Indonesian Navy’s KAL Sengiap, which was operating alongside personnel from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).
KM Ocean Three is a cargo vessel that had departed from Sedanau, Natuna Regency, bound for Pemangkat, Sambas Regency. It was carrying a cargo of fish and empty gas cylinders. The vessel failed to arrive at its destination as scheduled, and the crew could not be contacted, prompting the shipping agent to report the incident to the Natuna SAR Office on Saturday. A search operation was launched the same day.
‘The captain was successfully found alive in the waters off Pian Padang, Natuna, on Sunday at 11:48 WIB,’ Abdul said when contacted from Natuna on Sunday.
According to the captain’s account, he met with two other crew members, Yoga and Arip, after the incident occurred. However, they subsequently became separated, and it is suspected that the two men were carried northwards by the current. Abdul explained that initial reports indicated the KM Ocean Three had four crew members: Wan Zaidan, Yoga, Arip, and Aldi. However, updated information revealed that Aldi did not join the voyage, meaning only three people were on board at the time of the incident.
‘The search for the two other crew members, Yoga and Arip, is still ongoing by the joint SAR team,’ he stated. He added that Sunday marked the second day of the SAR operation. On the first day, the team received information regarding the discovery of a fish cooler box believed to have come from the KM Ocean Three.