The vessel left from the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) wharf in the Selat Lampa port area, Natuna District, around 2:30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB). Although the weather was cloudy, cheerfulness radiated from the faces of those on board the Tanjung Datu vessel.
The voyage was part of a humanitarian mission to pick up eight Indonesian fishers who had been detained by Malaysian authorities since April 2024 for allegedly entering Malaysian territory.
Tanjung Datu 301 is a patrol boat owned by the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), which spans 110 meters in length.
The Natuna district government asked Bakamla for help because apart from the fishers, the fishers' boats or pompongs also needed to be brought back.
There were three boats in all with a capacity of 5 gross tonnage (GT). The boats had suffered engine failure because they had not been operated for three months.
After 17 hours of sailing, the Tanjung Datu vessel arrived at the pickup point. From afar, a large wooden ship could be seen approaching, pulling three small boats with the fishers on board.
Health check
After the boats got near the Tanjung Datu vessel, Bakamla personnel swiftly lowered a lifeboat to pick up the fishers. The personnel had earlier taken approval to do so from the Malaysian officials on board the ship pulling the fishers' boats.
The pickup process was accompanied by cloudy weather and drizzling rain.
On board the Tanjung Datu vessel, the fishers were welcomed with a hug by the head of Natuna District Fisheries Office, Hadi Suryanto. While exchanging hugs, some of the fishers expressed their gratitude to Suryanto.
On the second deck of the vessel, two nurses from Bakamla, along with medical equipment, were waiting for the fishers.
The fishers sat in an orderly manner on the chairs provided for them, waiting their turn to get checked. Before the health check, the fishers were provided snacks and drinks. After that, one by one, they were called for the checkup, which covered their heartbeat, eyes, tongue, and ears.
Rudi Endratmoko, a Bakamla colonel and the commander of the Tanjung Datu vessel, chatted with the fishers, asking whether they had any complaints.
The fishers expressed their gratitude to him with tears in their eyes. Indeed, they had been waiting to be picked up.
"We did not get beaten there (in Malaysia). However, we felt pressured because we were in a foreign country," Rizal, one of the fishers, said.
After the fishers were declared healthy, the Malaysian officials boarded the Tanjung Datu vessel with the handover documents. Despite the drizzle, the handover process went smoothly.
While the handover was taking place, Bakamla personnel could be seen moving the ropes of the fishing boats from the Malaysian ship to the Tanjung Datu vessel.
Given their prior experience of pulling an Australian ship that had experienced engine failure in the waters of North Natuna in October 2023 and intensive training, the rope installation process went quickly and precisely.
The three boats were neatly lined up, with the distance of the first boat from the Tanjung Datu vessel about 50 meters, and the other two boats trailing about 25 meters behind the first boat. The distance was kept so that the fishing boats would not get damaged by the waves created by the propeller of the Tanjung Datu vessel.
Initially, the plan was to put the fishing boats on board the vessel. However, it was rejected because it was considered risky for the boats.
"After we carried out a simulation and evaluation, towing was (determined to be) the best option," Endratmoko informed.
Bringing fishers home
After the ropes were installed, black smoke could be seen emanating from the two funnels of the Tanjung Datu vessel, a sign that it was preparing to sail back to Natuna.
The engine did not seem as loud as during the pickup voyage because the speed was reduced to minimize the risk of damage to the fishing boats.
After 11 hours of sailing, five of the fishers and two of the fishing boats were returned to the Subi sub-district. They were picked up by officials from the local sub-district government in Subi waters.
Happy faces were seen among the fishers and their relatives who came to receive them.
Words of gratitude were heard again, namely from the local government, fishers' families, and the fishers themselves.
The signing of the handover of the five fishers was also carried out on board the Tanjung Datu vessel, but this time, between the Natuna District Fisheries Office and the Subi sub-district government.
This was because the handover from Bakamla to the Natuna district government had been planned on Sunday (August 11) morning at the Selat Lampa port area.
After signing the documents, the Subi sub-district head said goodbye and took the fishers back to their homes.
The Tanjung Datu vessel continued its voyage, which was estimated to take 11 hours. At 6 a.m. sharp on Sunday, the vessel stopped, waiting for a decision on whether it was allowed to dock.
After waiting for several minutes, the vessel was docked and continued with the handover process.
At Sunday's event, the fishers and their families were given advice by the Tanjung Datu vessel commander and the Natuna district government so that the same incident does not reoccur in the future. The fishers also promised that they would not repeat their mistake.
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Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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