SINGAPORE: Two vessels, including a ferry carrying 165 passengers from Batam to Singapore, collided in the city-state’s waters on Monday (Nov 10), Indonesian media reported.
The Singapore-bound MV Horizon 9, which also had seven crew members on board, collided with the LA Digue, a Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker in Singapore waters, Batam News reported, citing Batam’s port authority KSOP, which said it received a report of the collision at about 7.30pm (Singapore time).
All passengers and crew from both ships were safely evacuated to HarbourFront terminal in Singapore, Antara news agency quoted a KSOP official as saying.
The bow of the Horizon 9 suffered damage, Antara said, citing KSOP. The ferry reportedly departed from Batam at around 3.30pm in Indonesia.
Investigations are ongoing to find out the cause of the accident and potential environmental impact, said KSOP, adding that it is communicating with the passenger ferry’s operator Horizon Ferry and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Junaidi, a passenger who was on board the ferry, told The Straits Times that prior to the collision, the ferry had suddenly swerved to the left.
He said the ferry’s engine was then turned off. The 43-year-old added that he noticed the ferry heading for the side of the tanker.
A loud bang was heard during the collision, he said.
“There was a slight commotion in the ferry as we initially thought that the damage was quite serious,” said Junaidi.
However, staff assured passengers that the ferry had sustained only slight damage, he added.
Junaidi said the authorities then escorted the ferry safely to HarbourFront terminal.
ST has contacted MPA, national water agency PUB and Horizon Ferry for more information. - The Straits Times/ANN
