NTT - PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia or PT Pelni (Persero) has deployed the Sabuk Nusantara 108 motorboat (KM) to assist in the evacuation of the KM Sirimau passenger, which ran aground and crashed into a rock in Ile Ape Waters, Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
KM Sabuk Nusantara 108 is part of the Quick Response Team (QRT) deployed by the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation through the Class III Lewoleba Port Management Unit (UPP) Office and PT Pelni.
"Through UPP Lewoleba and PT Pelni and Basarnas Lewoleba have moved quickly to handle the aground according to the procedures for the Ship Safety Management System (SMK) and no ship leaks were found," said Acting Director General of Sea Transportation, Capt. Mugen S. Sartoto in his written statement, Thursday 19 May.
He said the KM Sirimau ship belonging to PT Pelni ran aground in the waters of Palilolon Village, on its way from Lewoleba Port to Maumere Port. KM Sirimau carried 784 passengers.
The distance between the ship's shipwreck location and Lewoleba Harbor is 8.9 NM or +/- 16.56 km or +/- 1 hour.
Mugen conveyed that all passengers on the KM Sirimau ship were confirmed to be in safe condition. He said the effort to take off the ship KM Sirimau had been carried out during the highest tide conditions, namely Wednesday, May 18, from 01.00 to 02.00 WITA.
He added that when the second highest high tide occurred on the same day at 12.00 to 13.00 WITA, the take-off had not yet produced results.
"We received a report that the movement effort to get off the ground had not yielded results, we immediately asked PT. Pelni to evacuate passengers who were still on board and take them to the nearest port (Lewoleba) to be transported by other PELNI ships, with guaranteed accommodation and food during the period. wait and continue the journey to the destination, it is entirely the responsibility of PELNI," said Mugen.
Meanwhile, Head of the Corporate Secretariat of PT Pelni Opik Taupik apologized for the inconvenience caused by this incident.
"Currently we are continuing to work so that KM Sirimau can run aground. Our initial effort was by assisting KM Gandha Nusantara 14 on Wednesday, May 18, when the highest tide had not succeeded in releasing KM Sirimau," he said.
"We again assisted KM Sabuk Nusantara 108 to assist in the evacuation of KM Sirimau passengers to the next port by coordinating with a number of port parties. Furthermore, 784 passengers from KM Sirimau will continue their journey with KM Sabuk Nusantara 108," he added.
For the time being, KM Sabuk Nusantara 108 will serve the KM Sirimau route until the ship is successfully removed from the aground position and is ready to be operated again. The route of KM Sabuk Nusantara 108 which is seconded to evacuate KM Sirimau passengers is Kupang-Lewoleba-Maumere-Mananga-Lewoleba-Balauring-Balanusa-Kalabahi.
"To passengers affected by the KM Sirimau crash, we pay attention to the safety, health and comfort of all passengers during the evacuation waiting period. All passengers are healthy and safe," he said.
KM Sirimau is one of the PELNI ships with a capacity of 1,000 pax with the route Kupang-Lewoleba-Maumere-Baubau-Wanci-Namrole-Ambon-Sorong-Manokwari-Sorong-Ambin-Wanci-Baubau-Maumere-Lewoleba-Kupang.
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