"We did not observe oil spills in the waters after the incident occurred at the Sorong traditional port," Head of the Sorong Port Authority Office Jece Julita Piris stated.
The port authority's investigators had summoned 11 crew members of the ferry, including the skipper, for questioning to identify the cause of the fire at the ship, Piris remarked.
On the basis of preliminary results of the port authority's investigation, cigarette butts might have caused the fire.
A comprehensive probe will later be conducted by the National Transportation Safety Commission’s (KNKT’s) team members expected to arrive shortly in Sorong, Piris revealed.
The ferry's wreckage was towed to a state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina's dockyard in Dokarim Island for repair.
This was promptly conducted so as to not disrupt activities of other vessels at the Sorong Port, he emphasized.
The KM Fajar Baru 8 is a ferry serving the Sorong-Raja Ampat route.
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Translator: Ernes BK, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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