Ship Sinks in Riau Islands, 9 Crew Members Still Missing

A fishing vessel KM Makmur Jaya capsized in waters off Merapas Island, Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, with nine crew members still missing following the incident.

The Head of Tanjungpinang SAR Office, Fazzli, stated that his office received information that KM Makmur Jaya, carrying 29 people, experienced a capsizing incident at coordinates 01°00.584’N−105°19.255’S on Sunday 8 March at 21:05 WIB, based on information from ship agent Lago.

Fazzli noted the incident location was approximately 90 nautical miles from Sekupang Wharf in Batam.

“The 9 people still missing had managed to save themselves using a lifeboat that was on the ship,” Fazzli said on Monday 9 March.

He outlined the chronology of events beginning when KM Makmur Jaya departed from Kampung Bugis, Tanjungpinang, bound for Pengibu Island on Saturday 7 March at 14:00 WIB.

However, on Sunday early morning at 04:00 WIB, the vessel was struck by high waves causing the ship to tilt severely before eventually capsizing in waters off Merapas Island.

In the emergency situation, Fazzli explained, 20 crew members attempted to save themselves by remaining on top of the capsized vessel’s hull. Meanwhile, nine other crew members successfully boarded a rescue lifeboat but subsequently became separated from the main vessel.

Twenty crew members were evacuated by the passing vessel KM Sinar Abadi, which happened to be in the area at 11:00 WIB.

“The 20 crew members who remained on the vessel’s hull were immediately evacuated to Kijang Port, Bintan Regency, for handover to the ship agent,” Fazzli stated.

Fazzli continued that currently 20 survivors have been accounted for and are undergoing information gathering. Meanwhile, the nine crew members aboard the rescue lifeboat remain missing and search operations are ongoing.

Fazzli added that SAR rescue teams from Batam SAR Station together with the crew of KN SAR Purworejo 101, comprising 22 personnel, have been deployed to the incident location to search for the nine missing crew members.

Furthermore, he noted that the sunken vessel was engaged in fishing activities. The passengers on board were fishermen working aboard the vessel.

“The fishermen who were engaged in fishing activities,” he said.