The Tongkang Ship Carrying 4,000 Tons Of Leaking Feronicles In The Waters Of Obi Island

Basarnas Ternate handled a leaking barge in the waters of Obi Island/ Photo: Antara

One barge loaded with 4.000 tons ferronickel belonging to PT Wanatiara Persada was reported to have leaked in the waters of Obi Island, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province.

According to the Ternate Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), the incident caused a tugboat to sink.

"One crew member of the tugboat named Nur Ilham Syah (23) drowned and disappeared while trying to move the rope of the ship," said Head of Basarnas Ternate Fathur Rahman, quoting Antara, Sunday, April 9.

According to him, Basarnas Ternate received a report regarding the barge accident from the water police on April 9, 2023 at around 08.40 WIT.

He explained that on April 8, 2023 at 19.50 WIT, PT Wanatiara Persada officers ordered the Pacific 19 tugboat crew to release the barge hook rope loaded with 4,000 tons of ferronicles.

When the crew of the tugboats which included Eko Pradana, Hardi Pramana Putra, and Ilham tried to remove the barge's hook rope, the ferronickel cargo spilled into the sea and the incident caused the three crew to fall into the sea.

Two of the three crew managed to save themselves and another person was reported missing.

The SAR team has been dispatched to Jici II PT Wanatiara to find the crew of the ship that was reported to have sunk.