Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA) - Indonesian search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate 11 crew members of the fishing vessel KM Maluku Prima Makmur 03, which caught fire in waters near Maluku, officials said Monday evening.
“On the fourth day of SAR operations, we coordinated with AirNav Indonesia to monitor flights from Ambon to Banda and Tual, reporting any sightings to Basarnas Ambon,” said Muhammad Arafah, head of the National SAR Agency (Basarnas)-Ambon Office.
A SAR team aboard KN SAR 242 Bharata departed Pelabuhan Tehoru at 08:00 a.m local time, heading to designated coordinates based on the SAR MAPS H4 search plan.
At 10:35 a.m. local time, Basarnas Ambon coordinated with Ambon and Banda navigation offices to alert passing vessels in Banda, Maluku Tengah, and Seram waters to assist in the search.
Search areas were divided among three units: SRU 1 on KRI Kerapu searched west of Seram Island at 04:20 p.m. SRU 2 on KN SAR Bharata covered 69 nautical miles southeast of Tehoru at 05:10 p.m.
SRU 3, KRI Balungan, conducted searches east of Ambon waters. As of Monday evening, combined SAR teams had found no signs of the crew.
Operations were suspended overnight and will resume Tuesday morning.
The fishing vessel had departed Pelabuhan Tulehu for a fishing spot in Banda Sea. On Nov. 20, the owner received reports that KM MPM 03 caught fire at coordinates 4°33'52.20''S–128°48'33.55"E around 17:50 WIT.
All 11 crew remain missing, including captain Yakob Arnyanyi, 60, and crew members Kien Julson Sabandar, 52; Misran Sumenda, 51; Finsen Rahayaan, 27; Deki Tatael, 59; Hengki Tatael, 21; Agung Mamentiwalo, 29; Oksin Tatael, 29; Otnjel Kolotja, 51; Jefry Langelo, 62; and Melvin Rolando Hitalessy, 26.
“SAR operations will resume tomorrow morning. We hope for positive news from the field,” Arafah said.
Several fatal accidents have continued to challenge Indonesia's reputation in transportation safety over the past seven years, during which the country had borne witness to a series of fatal accidents.
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, a longboat carrying 13 soccer players capsized off the waters of Selat Nenek Island near Batam City, Riau Islands.
Ten people survived, while three others reportedly went missing.
On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Tunu Pratama Jaya roll-on/roll-off vessel, carrying 12 crew members, 53 passengers, and 22 cars, capsized in the rough waters off Bali Island.
