Fast Ship Pricilia 99 Destination Tulehu-Amahai Maluku Strikes In The Middle Of The Sea, All Lights Go Out

AMBON - The fast ship KM Pricilia 99, which departed from Tulehu Port, Salahutu District (Ambon Island) to Amahai Port (Seram Island) Central Maluku Regency, broke down around Tanjung Kwako waters due to a disturbance in the ship's steering wheel.

"It's not that the engine died, but there was a problem with the steering system," said Director of PT Pelayaran Dharma Indah, Johny de Queljoe in Ambon, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 24.

PT PDI is a company that owns KM fast and luxury boats. Pricilia 99 usually sails the Ambon Port route to Amahai Port with a two-hour travel schedule.

However, the ship held by Mualim I, Yance Hatu, broke down while in the vicinity of Tanjung Kwako Waters, Malteng. All the lights also went out.

This incident had made the passengers panic because the ship was floating in the middle of the sea and all the lights were off before getting help from another ship to pull it.

Johny added that his party will operate KM Cantika 88 to serve the Tulehu-Amahai shipping route to replace KM. Pricilia 99 to be repaired.

Meanwhile, the former KM captain, Pricilia 99, La Eman said, the ship had experienced an engine failure on July 28, 2022 while sailing from Tulehu Port.

At that time, the ship experienced an engine failure around Pelauw State Waters, Haruku Island District (Malteng) and he asked to be pulled back to Tulehu because it was the closest port.

"I asked for the help of the ship being pulled back to the nearest Tulehu Port from the scene and the solution taken was a rescue effort because all the engines were off, except for the engine lights which did not turn off," he said.