4 Days Of Terombang-twist In The Makassar Strait, Balikpapan SAR Team Successfully Evacuated 6 Crews Of KM Mitra Utama

The process of withdrawing KMN Mitra Utama 02 along with six crew members in the Makassar Strait, Monday (26/8) (Between/HO KPP Balikpapan)

BONTANG - The Balikpapan Search and Rescue (SAR) Team, East Kalimantan, managed to evacuate the Mitra Utama 02 Fisherman's Motorboat (KMN) along with six crew members (ABK), after being adrift for four days in the Makassar Strait. "After four days of being adrift in the waters of the Makassar Strait, KMN Mitra Utama 02 was successfully evacuated by the Balikpapan Search and Rescue Office (KPP) using a fishing boat," said Head of the Balikpapan KPP Operations Section Endrow Sasmita in Bontang, Antara, Tuesday, August 27. Previously, on Saturday, August 24, at around 15:10 WITA there was a marine accident experienced by KMN Mitra Utama 02. This ship was sailing on a route from Berau Regency (Kaltim) to Bali Province, experiencing engine failure and being caught in a fishing family in the Makassar Strait, so the ship owner contacted KPP Balikpapan to ask for evacuation assistance. At that time, communication with KMN Mitra Utama 02 could not use cellular phones because there was no signal, so communication could only be carried out using SSB Radio at 11.450 Mhz frequency. Selanjutnya pada Senin 26 Agustus 2024 pukul 11.45 Wita Tim SAR Sangatta di Kabupaten Kutai Timur (Kaltim) berhasil menemukan KMN Mitra Utama 02 pada Koordinator 00.03'54.1" N 118.28'11.1" E. The joint SAR team assisted by fishing boats evacuated KMN Mitra Utama 02 and six crew members by pulling them to Kewallan Island, Bontang City (Kaltim) area. "Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the joint SAR team will continue the evacuation process with a distance of 71 nautical miles with an average speed of 4.5 knots and remain under the monitoring of the Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB) Pos SAR Sangaha," he said.

At 11.00 WITA, the joint SAR Team and KMN Mitra Utama 02 arrived at Tanjung Laut Pier, Bontang, in a safe condition and all crew members were successfully evacuated safely. "The elements involved in this search and rescue operation are from the East Kutai SAR Post, the Muara Sangatta Navy Post, the Bontang Navy Post, Polairud Polda Kaltim, Sangatta Patrol Headquarters, Bontang City BPBD, Rapi, and fishermen," said Endrow.