Indonesian Car Carrier sank after colliding with a cargo ship earlier last week.
A vehicle carrier sank earlier last week after colliding with another ship. Bad weather was the cause of the accident reportedly. Indonesian authority BASARNAS conducted an operation aided by a passing vessel and rescued 17 crew members from the sinking ship.
The vehicle carrier named Serasi IÂ was built in 1990. It was moving regularly on a route between Belawan Port in Medan, North Sumatra and Patimban Port in Subang, West Java. The vessel stood overnight 134 mile long Bangka Strait east of the island of Sumatra. Initial report from the Indonesian authority says the accident happened due to bad weather. However, they later reported the cause of accident might be human error.
The Serasi I reportedly also collided with another vessels in the area while transiting. The vessel is currently at port of Palembang. Indonesian authority and officials are inspecting the ship and questioning the crew. Â
Right after the collision, captain of the vessel carrier reported that his ship water in the forward section and that he plans to run the ship aground. However after a short while he reported the officials that the vessel was sinking and its 17 crew members were abandoning the ship.
Indonesian officials say that they dispatched 2 rescue vessels immediately after. Â A passing vessel took the 17 crew members initially. However the rescue vessel took them before arriving to the shore. Â 5 of the crew members got injured while 12 crew members were safe.
“The latest information we received was that there were 497 vehicles including heavy equipment onboard the Serasi I. To be sure, we are waiting for the captain of the ship,” said the Commander of the Muntok SAR Post Alert Unit.
Indonesian authority BASARNAS is currently investigating the incident. Ship collisions and accidents are risky in the marine industry as it cause huge damages to both parties involved.