Immigration Chief Surya Pranata on Sunday said the other seven Thai sailors were still under custody in Indonesia for further investigation by marine transportation officers.
As to the fate of the sinking ship, Surya said his personnel had had a meeting with the tanker`s owner and insurance company from Singapore. The meeting agreed that the ill-fated ship should be evacuated at least six month after the sinking date.
A Singaporean-flagged tanker sank at Nikoi isle near Bintan Island after hitting a coral reef on Thursday afternoon, an Indonesian Navy spokesman said.
The MT,AB-9 with a 15-man crew had hit a coral reef and sank at around 13.30 western Indonesian time but all the people on board survived, Indonesian Navy spokesman Commodore Tri Prasodjo said.
"The ship was manned by a Thai crew headed by Pisanu Panruksa and all of them were rescued by Indonesian naval personnel based in Tanjung Pinang in cooperation with local residents," Tri said.
The tanker`s skipper and other crew members were eventually handed over to the Tanjung Pinang immigration office, he said.
The 14 Thai sailors are Pisanu Panruksa, Sathit Hankla, Sakkarin Manakla, Werayut Na Pahattalung, Mana Sudthayalai, Prasert Chinphet, Nisit Keawpee, Chanwut Chaengtrong, Chookeat Khairam, Pisit Worapipattanakul, Santi Sae-Tan, Prakrong Sangbudda, Sombat Wantunat and Chakkit Boonkla.(*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
