SINGAPORE: A Singapore-flagged ferry ran aground at the Karang Galang reef, off the coast of Batam, on Saturday afternoon (Mar 2), the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said.
The Wavemaster 5 ferry was on its way to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal from Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia, when the boat ran aground, MPA said.
It received a report at 1.55pm of the incident, which happened off the eastern coast of Batam.
There were 50 passengers on board the ferry, the authority said, including five Singaporeans and seven crew members. All of them were transferred to another ferry, Wavemaster 6, which was activated by operator Majestic Ferry.
As of 5.50pm, all passengers were safely returned to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, according to MPA.
“All the passengers are accounted for and the ferry is in [a] stable condition. There are no reports of injury or oil pollution. MPA is investigating the incident,” the authority said.
Source: CNA/na(mi)
Singapore-flagged ferry ran aground off the eastern coast of Batam; all passengers safe
Amelia Teng Straits Times 2 Mar 19;
SINGAPORE - A Singapore-flagged ferry ran aground at Karang Galang reef, off the eastern coast of Batam, Indonesia on Saturday afternoon (March 2).
In a statement, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), said that all 50 passengers and seven crew members on board the ferry, which was making its way from Indonesia to Singapore, are accounted for.
The spokesman said it received a report at 1.55pm on Saturday about the incident involving the ferry, named Wavemaster 5.
The ferry had left Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia and was heading for Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore when the incident happened.
The ferry operator, Majestic Ferry, activated another ferry, Wavemaster 6, to transfer all the passengers to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
"All the passengers are accounted for and the ferry is in stable condition," said the MPA, adding that as of 5.50pm, all passengers have safely returned to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
"Passengers were systematically disembarked and provided with some food, drinks and wet towels," it said.
Staff from government agencies like MPA, Immigration & Checkpoint Authority, Singapore Civil Defence Force and Singapore Police Force as well as staff from Majestic Ferry and Singapore Cruise Centre were on scene to assist affected passengers, said the MPA.
In addition, three patrol crafts were deployed by MPA and Police Coast Guard to escort the ferry to the terminal, it said.
Majestic Ferry also arranged for 30 taxis to send affected passengers to their homes or next destination free of charge.
There are no reports of injury or oil pollution, said the MPA, which is investigating the incident.