Sinking of MV Marina Baru 2B

Sinking of MV Marina Baru 2B
MV Marina Baru 2B prior to its sinking, seen at a dock in Makassar
Date 19 December 2015 (2015-12-19)
Time 13:30 - 16:30 (UTC+8)
Location 14 nautical miles from Siwa Harbor, Bone Bay, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Coordinates 03°46′00″S 120°39′00″E / 3.76667°S 120.65000°E / -3.76667; 120.65000Coordinates: 03°46′00″S 120°39′00″E / 3.76667°S 120.65000°E / -3.76667; 120.65000
Cause
  • Ferry operated in an unsuitable weather condition
  • Design flaws
  • Poor handling from the crew during an emergency
Outcome
  • Sank at Bone Bay
  • 45 survivors rescued
  • 65 bodies recovered
  • 12 missing and presumed dead
Deaths 65 confirmed
Missing 12 (presumed dead)
Passengers and crews 112
Survivors 45

The sinking of MV Marina Baru 2B occurred on the noon of 19 December 2015 when a high speed vessel carrying 112 passengers and crews sank off the coast of Bone, South Sulawesi in inclement weather condition. A 9 day search and rescue operation, conducted by authorities, successfully rescued 45 survivors and recovered 65 bodies from the sea. 12 people were declared as missing and presumed dead.

The sinking was the deadliest shipwreck of 2015 in Indonesia and one of the worst in South Sulawesi. Multiple survivors stated that rough waves managed to damage the ferry's wall and flooded the vessel.

On 8 March 2018, the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee published the final report. They blamed bad weather as the main cause of the disaster since the inclement condition of the weather at the time produced waves higher than the safe height for a ferry, which is 2 meters. Due to this, massive amount of water easily flooded the ferry and damaged its structures. Contributing to the disaster were the flaws in the ferry's structure and the poor handling of the emergency by the crew.

Sinking

The ferry, MV Marina Baru 2B, is used for a regularly scheduled domestic ferry service from North Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi to Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi. The service usually takes about 3 hours. The ferry has a capacity of 184 passengers and crew members. On 19 December 2015, at 11:00 local time (UTC+8), the ferry departed Kolaka Harbor. A video footage which was taken by onlookers during the departure showed that the weather at the time was in good condition.[1]

As the ferry passed Lambasina Island, the Captain increased its speed to around 20 knots. At 12:30 local time, the ferry was in Bone Bay.[1]

30 minutes later, the weather in the area started to deteriorate. Waves started to reach 5 meters and the wind started to blow hard. Windspeed at the time was recorded to be at 22 knots. The Captain chose to continue to Siwa and decided to decrease the speed of the ferry by 7 knots. As the ferry was hit by rough waves repeatedly, it started to roll for several times. The captain struggled to maintain the control of the ferry and asked the crew to be on alert and to prepare the passengers for an emergency.[1]

At 13:30 local time, as a vortex was spotted near the ferry, the captain and his crew heard a loud crack from the bow. Not long after that, the bulwark of the ferry started to break. Seconds later, the bulwark alongside with several objects on the forecastle deck flew from the ferry. The Captain ordered his crew to check on the passenger decks.[1]

A crew then realized that water had flooded the passenger area of the lower deck and that passengers had already panicked. Quick examination revealed that water entered the ferry through the bow door and the side passenger door. He then raised his observation to the Captain. There were arguments between the crew on whether they should return to Kolaka or should continue to Wajo. The Captain finally decided to return to Kolaka. As he was struggling for the controls, massive amount of water continued to enter the ferry. Passengers recalled that the ferry listed for several times. At one time, the ferry reached an angle of 30 degree. Several passengers decided to take the water out from the ferry by hands. They were later overcame by the water. As the passengers and crews didn't manage to take the water out from the engine compartment at the back, the massive amount of water caused the stern to sink.[1]

The Captain decided to stop the engine and ordered the crew to evacuate the passengers. At 14:20 local time, he contacted the ground officers and stated that the ferry was sinking and asked for immediate assistance. This was the last transmission from the ferry. The crew recalled that, at the time, as they were evacuating the passengers, they only managed to inflate one life-raft, while the other four were unusable. The poor crowd control from the crew caused passengers to immediately jump onto the sea, where many were immediately swept away by the rough waves.[1]

At 16:30 local time, approximately 3 hours after the start of the sinking, the ferry was completely submerged.[1]

Search and rescue

The ground officers immediately contacted the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency at 14:20 local time. Multiple government agencies were also contacted. In response to the emergency, officials in Siwa Harbor dispatched MV Marina Express 3 to the area. However, due to the rough waves and windy condition in the area, officials postponed the rescue operation. The captain of the vessel decided to return to Tobakul/Lasusua.[1]

Officials later contacted the crew of MV New Camellia to observe the situation near the area where last contact had been made by MV Marina Baru 2B. However, the captain was unable to do so due to bad weather condition in the area. The search and rescue operation had to be called off by authorities due to the deteriorating weather condition.[1]

Members of the Kendari Search and Rescue Agency were briefed on the search and rescue operation

The search and rescue operation was resumed on 20 December. Crisis center was set up in Siwa. Multiple ships and helicopter were dispatched to search survivors and victims.[2] The Indonesian Armed Forces stated that they would participate in the rescue operation. On 06:00 local time the crew of MV Marina Express 3 managed to rescue 20 survivors. 2 bodies were also recovered. 4 survivors were later found by a local fisherman nearby.[2] On 09:00 local time, a group of 14 survivors were rescued while a body was retrieved from the sea. The search and rescue operation was hampered by bad weather. During the operation, a search and rescue ship was damaged by rough waves.[3]

On 21 December, Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency shifted the search area to the waters in North Kolaka and Kolaka, as the sea current would likely drift the passengers to the area. Most survivors were found in the area.[4] The head of the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency, Soelistyo, stated that he would observe the rescue effort and would visit the survivors and the relatives of the victims in the hospital.[5] One survivor was found and was immediately evacuated to Djafar Harun Hospital. On the evening, authorities announced that 3 bodies, including 1 child and 1 infant, had been recovered and 70 people were still missing.[6]

On 22 December, the search area was widened to Palopo.[7] At least 783 search and rescue personnel were dispatched. The Captain of the ferry was found to have survived the sinking.[8] He claimed that initially he was with another five people. However, they were later separated due to the strong waves.[9]Another survivor was found floating over a debris.[10] The rescue operation was called off due to high waves.[11] Authorities announced that 4 bodies had been recovered.[1]

On 23 December, local fishermen recovered 7 bodies in Bulu Puloe. Another 9 dead bodies were recovered by search and rescue personnel. On 24 December, 36 bodies were found.[12] From 25 - 26 December, only 1 victim was recovered. 3 victims were transported to Makassar for further identification.[13] Authorities stated that 12 were still missing. The search and rescue effort was extended for 3 days.[14] On 29 December 2015, the search and rescue operation was officially ended. 45 survivors were rescued, 65 bodies were recovered and 12 people were never found.[15][16]

Passengers and crews

There were conflicting reports on the actual number of passengers and crews who boarded the ferry. Several media stated that around 118 - 125 people were on board. Officials later confirmed that there were 108 passengers and 4 crews on board.[1] Among the dead were government officials from Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi and Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi.[17][18]

Investigation

High waves

Most survivors stated that MV Marina Baru 2B sank due to the enormous height of the waves, which were as high as 5 meters.[19]

Indonesian Meteorological Agency stated that they had warned the crews on the possibilities of high waves, with windspeed reaching as high as 45 km/h. They later added that officials who worked in the harbor where the ferry departed should've cancelled the trip.[20] Examination on the radar data suggested that waves as high as 3 metres might have been formed due to the storm system throughout Bone Bay.[1]

Interviews on the survivors confirmed that the waves managed to enter the ferry through the bow door and the side passenger door. The water then managed to travel to the engine compartment. The pumps, which were responsible for taking the water out from the ferry, were overwhelmed by the massive amount of water. The engine compartment was flooded and the engine was abruptly stopped.[1]

Sequence of the sinking of MV Marina Baru 2B (taken from the NTSC Final Report)

The water then managed to move to the backup engine, which was located directly behind the main engine compartment. Water easily went through the door and flooded the backup engine. Both compartments were located at the back of the ferry, so the stern started to sink. The sinking of the stern caused more water to enter, which caused the last compartment, located behind the backup engine, to be flooded as well. As three compartments were flooded by water, the ferry was unable to float.[1]

Design flaws

Testimonies gathered from the survivors revealed that water entered the ferry through the bow door. Additional testimonies were given by the crews, who claimed that before the sinking they heard a crack near the bridge. The investigation revealed that there was a divider in the structure of the bow. This divider was responsible to prevent any water from entering the passenger area. Nearby, there was an access door to the forecastle deck. Investigators noted that the seal and the locking mechanism on the door was poor. The force of the wave was propelled by the Captain's decision to move directly against the waves. Thus, the waves managed to tear open the access door, which was located on the forecastle deck of the ferry. The divider was proven to be not waterproof, and thus allowing water to enter to the passenger area. [1]

Investigation revealed that most doors on MV Marina Baru 2B were not waterproof. The doors should've been equipped with waterproof seals. Additionally, the investigation team found that there was a window in the engine compartment. The no-glass window was located at a close proximity with the waterline. Investigators noted that any opening were prohibited in the engine compartment. The ventilation on the engine compartment was also located at a near proximity with the waterline. During the sinking, MV Marina Baru 2B rolled several times. Investigators noted that there was a high chance that water managed to enter the ferry through the openings.[1]

Crew error and poor maintenance

Interviews from the survivors revealed that the survivors had to take their own initiatives to save the sinking ferry. Survivors claimed that, instead of the crews, the passengers were the one who managed the emergency, such as removing water from the ferry. There was no crowd control during the sinking, thus panic was not contained.[1]

The investigation also noted that several life-rafts and life-jackets were unusable during the sinking. It was revealed that there was minimum maintenance and observation on the reliability of the life-saving equipment on board the ferry.[1]

Aftermath

National Transportation Safety Committee issued 10 recommendations in response to the accident.[1] The Ministry of Transportation stated that they would evaluate every ferry services in Kolaka.[21] Jasa Raharja stated that they would compensate the victims and the survivors of the disaster.[22]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Final Report" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Committee. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 Sutrisno, Debbie (20 December 2015). "Empat Korban Kapal Marina Terselamatkan Nelayan". Republika. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "KM Marina Hilang Kontak, Empat Penumpang Ditemukan". Viva.co.id. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  4. ↑ "77 Penumpang KM Marina Belum Ditemukan". Detik. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "Besok Kepala Basarnas Ikuti Proses Pencarian Korban KM Marina". Tribun News. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  6. ↑ "70 Penumpang KM Marina Belum Ditemukan". Tempo. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "Polisi Kolaka Utara Cari Korban KM Marina hingga ke Palopo". Tribun News. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "ABK KM Marina Ditemukan Selamat". Tribun News. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  9. ↑ "Tiga Hari di Laut, Nakhoda KM Marina Mengaku Awalnya Bersama Lima Korban Lain". Republika. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  10. ↑ Hidayat, Rafki (22 December 2015). "Satu korban selamat KM Marina ditemukan di keramba". BBC Indonesia. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  11. ↑ "Pencarian Korban KM Marina Dihentikan Karena Gelombang Besar". Republika. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  12. ↑ "21 Penumpang Marina Dua Ditemukan Mengambang di Teluk Bone". Sindo News. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  13. ↑ "Tiga Jenazah Korban KM Marina Dibawa ke RS Bhayangkara Makassar". Tribun News. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Pencarian Korban KM Marina Diperpanjang Tiga Hari". Tribun News. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  15. ↑ "12 Korban KM Marina Belum Ditemukan, Operasi SAR Dihentikan". Berita Satu. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  16. ↑ "Pencarian Korban KM Marina Baru Resmi Dihentikan". Tribun News. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  17. ↑ "Istri Ajudan Bupati dan Dua Anaknya Jadi Korban Kapal Tenggelam, Keluarga Pasrah". Kompas. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  18. ↑ "Staf Ahli Bupati Konawe Berakhir Bersama KM Marina Baru". JPNN. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Tragedi KMP Marina Baru, BMKG Akui Sudah Laporkan Perkiraan Gelombang Laut". Jawa Pos. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  20. ↑ "KM Marina Tenggelam, BMKG Klaim Sudah Berikan Informasi Kondisi Cuaca dan Gelombang Laut". Berita Satu. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  21. ↑ "Penyeberangan Kapal Laut Bajoe – Kolaka Dievaluasi". Berita Sulsel. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  22. ↑ "Ini Komentar Jasa Raharja Terkait Karamnya Kapal Marina Baru di Teluk Bone". JPNN. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
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