3 British Foreigners Stranded In Banten Waters Successfully Evacuated

The Banten SAR Team evacuated foreigners from the SAMC Transporter Ship at Bandar Bakau Jaya Pier, Serang Regency, Wednesday (18/9/2024). (ANTARA)

SERANG - Three foreign nationals (foreigners) from England were rescued by the SAMC Transporter Ship because the Yacht Water Music/2BVU5 ship they boarded suffered damage to the west of Cocos Island, Australia. The three foreigners were then evacuated by the Banten SAR team from the SAMC Transporter Ship.

Head of Operations for the Banten SAR Office, Hairu Amir, said the evacuation request was submitted via email by JRC Australia via the Basarnas Command Center (BCC) on Friday last week.

The email said on Thursday 12 September the British-flagged Yacht Water Music/2BVU5 ship with three passengers had problems west of Cocos Island, Australia.

The three passengers, namely Steven Foot (67), Ian Harrison (29), and Richard Hill (65) have been rescued by the SAMC Transporter ship which will sail to Qingdao, China, past the Sunda Strait, Indonesia.

"The three victims asked for a dock in Indonesia and will leave for the British Embassy in Jakarta, with an intercept estimate Wednesday at 00.30 WIB," Hairu said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 18.

The Banten SAR Office then dispatched the Rescue Team and mobilized the Tetuka SAR KN to pick up three victims on Tuesday (17/9) at 20.00 WIB at the agreed coordinate point, namely 5 51'0.00"S - 106 2' 60.00"E, in accordance with the coordination with the crew of the SAMC Transporter ship.

The Banten SAR Office coordinated with the crew of the SAMC Transporter and Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Merak ship to determine the position of the ship.

The Banten SAR team arrived at Bandar Bakau Jaya Bojonegara, Serang Regency where KN SAR Tetuka docked, Tuesday (17/9) at 21.00 WIB, then moved to the intercept point to evacuate the victims.

The operation was completed on Wednesday at 02.35 WIB when KN SAR Tetuka had docked at Bandar Bakau Jaya Pier, Bojonegara.

"The operation was declared complete after the victim was handed over to the Immigration Office of Cilegon City, Banten," said Hairu.