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Ferry Nearly Sinks, Faces Investigation
Putri Prameshwari | January 12, 2010

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The Ministry of Transportation said on Tuesday that it would consider sanctioning the operator of a passenger ferry that almost sank off East Java.

On Saturday, Bahari Express 8B was forced to dock at a small island off the province after powerful waves damaged its hull. The vessel, which was carrying 193 passengers and 10 crew, were coming from Gresik subdistrict and heading to Bawean island, a three-hour trip.

The passengers were later loaded in fishing boats, which took them to Sangkapura Port in Bawean.

Sunaryo, director general of sea transportation at the ministry, said a team of experts had been sent to Gresik to investigate the incident.

He said the investigation would center on PT Sakti Inti Makmur’s decision to allow the boat to travel despite rough conditions at sea.

“It is clearly stated that boats made of fiberglass are forbidden to sail in open seas,” Sunaryo said, referring to a regulation implemented on Nov. 28 by the ministry banning high-speed fiberglass boats from serving long-distance routes.

“The question is, why did they still [allow the boat] to travel?”

“This is a matter of safety and we will make sure that they will be punished if they violated any laws,” Sunaryo added.

Sakti Inti Makmur’s operations could be suspended if the company was found liable by the investigating team, he said.

He added that the Gresik port administrator could also face sanctions.

Kurmin Halim, the chairman of Sakti Inti Makmur, said the ministry’s regulation was not clear.

“From my understanding, the ban only applies to ships that travel for more than four hours,” he said.

However, Sunaryo said the four-hour time limit was only applicable to boats operating on rivers and lakes.