ABK MT Ocean Star Floating In The Sea Of Timor Leste, Bakamla Ready To Evacuate

JAKARTA - The Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) is ready to deploy elements to assist in the evacuation process of the crew of the Ocean Star Motor Tanker Vessel that was tossed about at sea.

The Head of Bakamla, Admiral TNI Aan Kurnia, immediately ordered the Director of Maritime Operations of Bakamla RI, Laksma Bakamla Suwito, for evacuation duties.

Bakamla is ready to mobilize KN Ular Laut-405, which is currently in Tual, and KN Kuda Laut-403 in Ambon, to carry out the evacuation of KM Ocean Star crew members who are currently known to be in the waters of Timor Leste.

"Bakamla continues to coordinate with the South and Southeast Asia Section (Aselteng) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide information to Bakamla if there are further developments to mobilize Bakamla elements," said Laksma Bakamla Suwito, quoted by Antara, Thursday, June 17. .

In Bakamla's statement, it was stated that around 21 crew members, all of whom were Indonesian citizens (WNI), were adrift for almost four months on board the MT Ocean Star.

The news went viral, when the crew of MT Ocean Star uploaded a video requesting help on social media, recently.

In the video, the crew asked for help as soon as possible because the condition of the ship and crew was alarming at this time.

Based on the crew's statement in the video, the ship arrived in Dili on April 3 to support oil and gas operations in Timor Leste.

Ships with the status of being chartered by two companies are currently experiencing engine failure and power failure. Only the lighting generator can be turned on, because the fuel oil status is 0 percent.

This causes the pump to be unable to function to cope with a leak that occurs in one of the rooms.

In the condition of the ship almost sinking, the crew of the ship uploaded a video with the intention of asking for help. Because the two companies related to the ship's assignment did not respond.

Knowing this information, Bakamla carried out tracking of the ship's position and conditions around the incident through the Bakamla Command and Control Center (Puskodal).

The Directorate of Marine Operations also coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Athan Timor Leste, and succeeded in ascertaining the existence and condition of the ship and crew.

Bakamla RI continues to monitor the handling process needed, in coordination with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related parties. It is hoped that the evacuation process can be carried out as soon as possible.

The parties involved in rescuing MT Ocean Star included the Indonesian Embassy in Dili Timor Leste, KSOP Kupang, Ditpolairud Polda NTT, Polairud Atapupu Belu Regency, Navy Post Atapupu Belu, and SROP Kupang.