JAKARTA - Indonesia is pushing for an investigation into the tugboat explosion in the Strait of Hormuz, which injured one Indonesian citizen and left three others unaccounted for.
The tugboat Musaffah 2, flying the United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag, exploded while responding to damage to the container ship Safeen Prestige in the Strait of Hormuz, in waters between Oman and the UAE, on March 6 at 2:00 a.m. local time.
Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said that at the time of the incident, "Musaffah 2 had a total crew of seven, including four Indonesian citizens, and six technicians, including one Indonesian citizen."
According to eyewitness accounts, she continued, Musaffah 2 experienced an explosion that caused the ship to catch fire. At the time of the incident, four Indonesian crew members were on board Musaffah 2 and one technician was on board the container ship Safeen Prestige.
"One Indonesian crew member is receiving treatment for burns and is currently at Khasab City Hospital, Oman, and one survivor is in Abu Dhabi," Yvonne stated in a video caption on Sunday (March 8).
"Meanwhile, local authorities are still searching for three Indonesian crew members," she concluded.
Meanwhile, one surviving Indonesian citizen, AEN, a passenger and technician on the tugboat Musaffah 2, provided a statement to the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi on March 7.
The statement revealed that the incident began when the container ship Safeen Prestige suffered damage in Omani waters near the Strait of Hormuz. The Safeen Provider company then deployed the Musaffah 2 vessel, carrying seven crew members and six technicians, to conduct inspections and repairs.
The Musaffah 2 departed from Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, on the afternoon of March 5, 2026, and arrived at the location around 8:00 PM local time, the Abu Dhabi Maritime Authority (KRBI) said in a statement.
After an inspection, the Safeen Prestige was deemed beyond repair due to a lack of electrical power, so it was decided to tow it.
Six technicians, including AEN, then boarded the Safeen Prestige to assist with the preparations.
At approximately 2:00 AM on March 6, 2026, as preparations for the towing process were nearing completion, the Musaffah 2 tugboat reportedly experienced an explosion, causing a fire throughout the vessel, including on the bridge.
The exact cause of the explosion is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities.
Several crew members survived the incident, including one Indonesian citizen identified as YRJ. Three other Indonesians, identified as MP, SR, and AS, who were also crew members of the Musaffah 2 tugboat, remain missing.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pushing for a thorough investigation into this incident," Yvonne explained.
"The Indonesian representative is coordinating with the UAE and Omani authorities, as well as the shipping company," she continued.
"The UAE and Omani authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of this incident," Yvonne concluded.
The Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi is currently coordinating with various relevant parties, including the Indonesian Embassy in Muscat and local authorities, to obtain further information regarding the cause of the incident and the progress of the search for victims.
The Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi is also facilitating the treatment of Indonesian citizens who survived and ensuring the fulfillment of the rights and protection of Indonesian citizens affected by the incident.
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