The vessel is carrying 30,000 metric tons of white sugar.
Belitung (ANTARA) - Port authorities suspect human error led to the grounding of a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, MV Asia Pearl IV, in the Pulau Mendanau waters, Belitung District, Bangka Belitung Island Province, according to an official.

"The vessel is carrying 30,000 metric tons of white sugar," Fadli, an official from the Tanjung Pandan Port Authority, said here on Monday.

The 22,402 gross tonnage cargo ship was headed to Merak Banten from Sriracha in Thailand, and ran aground on May 2, 2020, he added.

All 24 crew members on the vessel have undergone health checks and have been found to be in good health. The crew have remained on the ship, and two rescue boats have been kept on stand-by for the vessel, Fadli noted.

MV Asia Pearl IV continues to be at the same location where it ran aground, and a permit is being obtained prior to the rescue process.

"The ship is in good condition as there is no sign of capsizing, and (it is) stable as (it) did not experience any leakage," Fadli stated.

The vessel will not disrupt other ship traffic departing from and heading to the port, he added.

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Translator: Kasmono, Suwanti
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
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