There are no casualties or sea contamination caused by the incident. We are exerting to evacuate promptly and carefully to prevent excess impact.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Transportation Ministry's Sea and Coast Guard (KPLP) has commenced an operation to evacuate a Djibouti-flagged tanker MT Young Yong, which ran aground near Takong Kecil Island, Batam city, Riau Islands, on Friday.

"At present, (the operation) is being handled by the relevant institutions, Tanjung Uban Class II Sea and Coast Guard and Tanjung Balai Karimun Class I Harbor Master and Port Authority, as well as the ship owner, for the evacuation measures," KPLP director Mugen Sartoto informed in a statement released here on Saturday.

According to Sartoto, for the rescue operation, Tanjung Uban Class II Sea and Coast Guard has dispatched the KNP Rantos P-210 boat, while the Tanjung Balai Karimun Class I Harbor Master and Port Authority has dispatched KNP 366.

The Djibouti-flagged tanker ran aground at 8 p.m. local time (UTC +7) on October 27, 2022, he said adding, no casualties or environmental damage were reported in the incident.

Responding to reports of the incident, the KPLP dispatched eight officers on two patrol boats to survey the conditions of the seabed where MT Young Yong had run aground, as well as monitor and secure the ship the same day, he said.

The evacuation operation needs to be conducted carefully as the tanker is within the Singaporean gas pipeline area, he added.

"There are no casualties or sea contamination caused by the incident. We are exerting to evacuate promptly and carefully to prevent excess impact," the director said.

Sartoto informed that MT Young Yong departed from Tanjung Pelepas Port, Malaysia, on October 18 and its intended destination was Nipa Island in Karimun district, Riau Islands.

The Djibouti-flagged tanker was manned by 25 crew members and was transporting 284,429 tons of oil, he said, adding that the 332-meter tanker is owned by Hong Kong-based East Wind Ship Management Ltd.

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Translator: Ahmad Wijaya, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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