Karang Collision, Kendari Basarnas Evacuates 371 Passengers Of KM Express Cantika

Passengers of KM Express Cantika 168 when getting off the ship. (ANTARA)

KENDARI - Basarnas Kendari assisted in the evacuation of ships that hit corals around the waters of Hari Island, Konawe Islands Regency (Konkep), Southeast Sulawesi Province (Sultra), on Tuesday, March 14. A total of 371 crew passengers were rescued. Acting (Plt) Head of Basarnas Kendari Rudi through an official statement in Kendari, Tuesday, said that his party received information on the ship accident experienced by the Express Cantika 168 route Raha-Kendari of one of the passengers named Rafael. At 13.00 WITA, we received information from Rafael, the passenger of the ship, who reported that there had been a ship accident, namely KM Express Cantika 168 candas around the waters of Hari Island, Konawe Islands Regency,'' said Rudi.. Based on the report, continued Rudi, at 13.40 Wita, his party dispatched the Rescue Basarnas Kendari Team using the State Ship (KN) SAR Pacitan and rubber boat to provide SAR assistance. He said that from the dock Basarnas Kendari to the location of the ship accident as far as 12 nautical miles. At 14.00 WITA, the KM Express Cantika 168 had succeeded in releasing its ship from the coral which made the ship ran aground in the middle of the sea. At 13.50 WITA, KM Express Cantika 168 was free from aground and continued its voyage to Kendari,'' he said. Rudi said that because it had successfully escaped from the coral, his party then continued to escort the passenger ship to arrive at Nusantara Port, Kendari.' At 14.00 WITA, RIB met with KM Express Cantika 168 and escorted the ship to the port of Nusantara Kendari with KNP 370 and KM Pricilia 88,. He said that the ship was transporting as many as 371 passengers and eight crew members.

Arriving at the port, said Rudi, the passengers and all crew members (ABK) were declared to have arrived in Kendari City safely. "With the arrival of KM Express Cantika 168 at the Nusantara Kendari Port in a safe condition," said Rudi, the SAR operation was declared complete and closed, all elements involved were returned to their respective units at 15.45 WITA.