"We have ended the search for the missing Sri Lankan fishing vessel which got lost some 230 miles southwest of Siberut island, Mentawai," said Teluk Bayur naval base commander Commodore Aswad here on Saturday.
The naval base, located nearest to the geographical coordinates where the vessel was believed to have gone missing had ended the search and rescue operation by an instruction from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) after a week-long fruitless effort, Aswad said.
During the search operation which actually lasted more than seven days, he said, the joint search and rescue team had scoured the seas around the Mentawai Islands which include Siberut island.
In the search operation, the Indonesian navy used two warships and the Indonesian Air Force used a surveillance aircraft Casa NC-212 while Basarnas used a rescue ship.
The Sri Lankan fishing vessel, FV Sankara, was believed to have gone missing after developing engine problem while catching fish. It probably was in distress amidst five-meter high waves.
The search operation was conducted by the joint search and rescue team to as far as 230 miles from Siberut island, Aswad said. (*)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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