M. Takwim Masuku, the head of Batam Special Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) of the ministry's Directorate General of Sea Transport, said that the incident caused no casualties from the two vessels.
"All passengers and crew of the two ships are safe and have been safely evacuated to HarbourFront in Singapore," Masuku stated in his written remarks on Monday evening.
He stated that according to the report received by his agency, the Singapore-registered MV Horizon 9, carrying 165 passengers and 7 crew, embarked from Batam Harbour Bay international passenger port at 3:30 p.m. local time.
Meanwhile, the Marshall Islands-registered La Digue sailed with chemical materials in its cargo.
The two ships collided in Singapore waters at around 6:30 p.m., Jakarta time, resulting in damage to the bow of the passenger ferry. "We are waiting for updates about other damages to the vessels," he said.
In response to the accident, Batam port authority is coordinating with Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and the ship owner, Horizon Ferries Pte. Ltd., Masuku noted.
"We continue to observe the developing situation and are coordinating intensively with all relevant parties," the Batam Port Authority head stated.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation by Singapore's MPA, he added.
Meanwhile, Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority, in their written statement on Tuesday, confirmed that all passengers and crew of the MV Horizon 9 ferry were safely disembarked at HarbourFront Centre regional ferry terminal following the incident.
The ferry sustained damages to its bow but "remained fully operational while en route back to Harbourfront Centre," according to MPA. Meanwhile, the tanker ship did not report any damage.
"An MPA patrol craft was immediately deployed to escort and guide the ferry back to HarbourFront Centre," MPA stated.
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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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