Not Long Ago Inaugurated, KMP Jatra 1 Drowned In Bolok

Illustration - A number of officers clean KMP Jatra I which is anchored at the Port of Bolok, Kupang, NTT / Antara

JAKARTA - PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) Secretary Shelvy Arifin confirmed that the KMP Jatra 1 ship sank at Bolok Port, Kupang.

KMP Jatra 1, which was inaugurated in early March, sank due to a leak due to a collision during high waves in the area.

"All the crew at the time of the incident were safe because they were on the ground", Shelvy told Antara, Monday, April 5.

ASDP continues to coordinate with regulators and has contacted the salvage for the evacuation of the ship but is waiting for the weather conditions to improve.

She explained that since Saturday, April 3, the crossing operational services at Bolok Port, Kupang have been closed due to extreme weather.

Another ship, KMP Namparnos, was also swept away by the ocean currents but ended up stranded in Kambing Island. Previously, when the weather was bad, the ship took shelter on Semau Island, while KMP Jatra 1 had been unable to move from Pier 2 at Bolok Kupang Port since last weekend because it was caught in a storm.

KMP Jatra 1, which was trapped at Pier 2 Bolok, suffered a collision that caused a leak, so that water entered the ship. The ship's position is then tilted at the dock with the ship's generator off.

Based on Circular ME.01.02/PDR/O7/KTUG/IV-2021 the Kupang Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, the tidal conditions of seawater, high waves, and high rainfall have resulted in the temporary closure of ferry operational services at Kupang Port. The closure was carried out by the local authorities until the situation was conducive.

ASDP appealed to all service users to postpone travel and remain vigilant of extreme weather. This temporary operational closure is ASDP's commitment to prioritizing the safety of all passengers and crew.

KMP Jatra I and KMP Namparnos are two aid fleets from the central ASDP which were inaugurated on March 10 in Kupang by the Governor of NTT Viktor B. Laiskodat which was also attended by the President Director of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry Ira Puspadewi.