SAR Operation Closed, KNKT Investigates KMP Mutiara Sentosa II Fire
Deputy Minister of Transport of the Republic of Indonesia Suntana has said that the fire aboard KMP Mutiara Sentosa II in waters north of Sumenep, Madura, is currently being investigated and will be processed legally.
Suntana said the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) is currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire aboard the vessel, which killed at least five people.
“We need time for the examination process with the KNKT,” Suntana said at a press conference at the integrated post at the Gapura Surya Nusantara (GSN) Terminal of Tanjung Perak Port, Surabaya, on Tuesday (4/8).
He confirmed that the KNKT investigation has begun. Nevertheless, determining the exact cause of the fire on the vessel, which was sailing the Surabaya-Makassar route, will take considerable time.
“It has started, of course, but it needs time,” he said.
Suntana added that the Ministry of Transport is also cooperating with East Java Regional Police (Polda Jatim) to examine criminal aspects related to the incident. He said the results of the examination will be conveyed to the public once the KNKT completes its investigation.
“We have also asked the police for assistance to examine other matters. So the findings will be reported to the public after the KNKT examination has been carried out,” he said.
He stressed that if the police investigation finds indications of criminal acts, the case will be processed in accordance with applicable law.
The Ministry of Transport, as the regulator, will also improve and refine shipping safety regulations to ensure similar incidents do not recur.
“If indications of criminal acts are found from the police investigation, we will process them according to prevailing rules. The Ministry of Transport as the regulator will improve and refine matters so this does not happen again. Sanctions will be imposed in accordance with the regulations,” he said.
Suntana claimed sanctions will be imposed based on the examination results, as has been done following previous maritime accidents.
“Certainly [there will be sanctions]. In previous accidents we imposed sanctions as well. There are administrative sanctions, revocations, and others,” he said.
Earlier, KMP Mutiara Sentosa II, bound for Makassar from Surabaya, was reported to have caught fire in waters north of Sumenep, Madura, East Java, on Sunday (2/8).
According to the latest Basarnas data on Tuesday (4/8), 238 people aboard the vessel have been evacuated. However, five of them were declared dead.
Basarnas Chief Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii stated that the search and rescue operation for victims of the KMP Mutiara Sentosa II fire in waters north of Sumenep Regency, Madura, East Java, has been officially closed.
“Therefore, I hereby officially declare that the dedicated SAR operation for the KM Mutiara Sentosa II emergency has been formally transferred to routine operations, namely a standby operation controlled by the Head of the Surabaya SAR Office,” Syafii said at a press conference at Tanjung Perak Port, Surabaya, on Tuesday (4/8).