“So far, the ship’s captain has not been found,” he said during a meeting with Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He made the statement in response to a question from Commission V chair Lasarus, who said that the missing captain’s account could be key to uncovering the cause of the fatal tragedy.
The minister underlined that while several crew members survived the mishap, the government has received no reports regarding the captain’s whereabouts.
He cited a report from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), which revealed that a joint evacuation team had rescued five of the ferry’s 12 crew members.
During the meeting, Purwagandhi also informed lawmakers that the Tunu Pratama Jaya had undergone docking in October 2024 and passed its last ramp check on June 3, 2025.
“Technical data from both the docking and ramp check processes showed no signs of damage or issues on the ship,” he said.
He added that captains are required to submit a report on their ship’s seaworthiness to the Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) to obtain a sailing permit.
“The document submitted by the captain indicated that the vessel was fit to sail,” he emphasized.
Purwagandhi added that the Ministry of Transportation is awaiting the results of an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) to determine the cause of the sinking.
The Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry, which was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles, sank en route to Gilimanuk Port in Bali from Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi, East Java, on July 2 at 11:35 p.m. local time.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 30 people had been safely evacuated, eight were confirmed dead, and 27 remained missing.
Related news: Ferry sinking: Police deploy medical team to autopsy bodies
Related news: SAR to deploy 37 divers for Tunu whereabouts
Translator: Muhammad H, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
