KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 Burns, KPK-PN Ask Public to Give KNKT Space for Investigation

JAKARTA - The Nusantara Ferry User Community (KPK-PN) asked all parties to give space to the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) to investigate the fire of the Mutiara Sentosa 2 Ferry Motor Ship (KMP) in the northern waters of Madura.

The KPK-PN considers the KNKT investigation to be important to uncover the causes of the accident objectively and to produce recommendations that can be a lesson for all maritime transport stakeholders.

The KPK-PN Coordinator, Dr. Maruly Hendra Utama, said that the attention of all parties should be directed first to the victims and the victims' families, while giving the opportunity to the authorities to carry out the investigation process.

"As a community of ferry users, of course we share the grief over the disaster that befell the KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2. We hope that the community will give space and time to the KNKT to conduct an investigation and produce official recommendations so that similar incidents do not recur in the future," said Maruly in an electronic message received by reporters in Jakarta, Sunday, August 9.

The KMP Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire in the waters north of Madura Island on Sunday (2/8/2026) while sailing from Surabaya, East Java, to Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Based on initial data provided by the Ministry of Transportation, the ship was carrying hundreds of people. The process of data collection and matching the manifest was then carried out to ensure the number of passengers, ship crew, and victims who were successfully evacuated.

Maruly said that the investigation process for transportation accidents could not be carried out in a hurry because it required examination of various aspects, including compliance with safety procedures, safety management systems, ship conditions, to other factors related to the incident.

According to him, KNKT has a mechanism and legal basis in conducting transportation accident investigations.

"KNKT works in accordance with the regulations that cover it, namely Law Number 17 of 2008 concerning Shipping, Government Regulation Number 62 of 2013 concerning Transportation Accident Investigation, and Presidential Regulation Number 2 of 2012 concerning the National Transportation Safety Committee. Let's give KNKT space and time," he said.

Maruly assessed that the results of the KNKT investigation would not solely be aimed at finding the party to blame. More than that, the recommendations are expected to serve as evaluation and safety mitigation material for all parties involved in the implementation of maritime transportation.

"KNKT works not only to investigate the causes of the incident, but also to provide official recommendations to the parties concerned so that similar incidents do not recur. So, the recommendations can be a learning and mitigation for all parties involved in national transportation," he said.

On the other hand, the KPK-PN asked the ship owner and all related authorities to concentrate on handling the victims, recovery, and consolidation of data related to the accident.

"This is the time for us to concentrate fully on always and continuing to side with the victims, starting from data consolidation, recovery, rescue, to synchronization of the necessary data collection on the incident that befell the Mutiara Sentosa 2 KMP," said Maruly.

He also appreciated all elements involved in the search, rescue, and evacuation operations of the victims, ranging from Basarnas, TNI, Polri, the Office of the Mayor and Port Authority (KSOP), shipping operators, to other potential SAR elements.

According to Maruly, the integrated work of all elements is an important part in ensuring the maximum rescue and handling of victims.

In addition to post-accident handling, the KPK-PN also reminded the importance of compliance by all service users with the provisions of maritime safety, including those related to baggage.

The public is asked to provide correct information regarding the goods carried when using marine transportation services and not to carry dangerous goods that have the potential to threaten the safety of shipping.

At the same time, ship operators and port authorities are also considered to have the responsibility to ensure that the loading process of passengers, vehicles, and goods is carried out according to safety procedures, including inspections of dangerous or flammable goods.

"Maritime safety is a shared responsibility. Compliance with all safety procedures, both by operators and the public, especially service users, is the main foundation in preventing accidents at sea and building a stronger national maritime safety culture," he said.

Maruly also asked the public not to rush to spread unverified information related to the cause or the party considered responsible for the accident.

He assessed that comments that were not based on facts and the investigation process could potentially add new problems, especially for victims and families who are still facing difficult situations.

"This incident is our common grief. Give KNKT the freedom to investigate and provide recommendations. At the same time, the ship owner must continue to side with the victims and the victims' families based on applicable provisions," said Maruly.

The KPK-PN hopes that all parties can refrain until the official KNKT investigation results are delivered. According to Maruly, the transparency of the investigation results and the implementation of recommendations are an important part to ensure that similar accidents do not happen again.

For users of crossing services, he said, safety is not only a matter of operators and the government, but is the responsibility of all parties involved in the marine transportation ecosystem.