Sinking of MV Dumai Express 10

Last updated

Sinking of MV Dumai Express 10
MV Dumai Express 15.jpg
MV Dumai Express 15, sister ship to the accident vessel
Date22 November 2009;12 years ago (2009-11-22)
Time09:28 - 09:55 (UTC+7)
LocationOff the coast of Iyu Kecil, Karimun Regency, Riau Islands, Indonesia
Cause
  • Structural failure of the superstructure leading to the presence of large amount of water on the deck
Outcome
  • Sank near Karimun, Riau Islands
  • 254 survivors found
  • 42 bodies recovered
  • 33 missing and presumed dead
Deaths42 confirmed
Missing33 (presumed dead)

The sinking of MV Dumai Express 10 occurred on the morning of 22 November 2009 when a ferry carrying more than 300 people sank near the island of Iyu Kecil in Karimun Regency, Riau Islands during bad weather. Eyewitnesses reported that massive waves had struck the ferry repeatedly, causing the starboard side of the ship to crack. Subsequently, a considerable amount of water poured into the deck. By 9:55 a.m. the ferry was fully submerged. [1] [2]

Contents

Search and rescue personnel were deployed to the area. More than 250 survivors were found. 42 bodies were discovered in the following days and 33 were still missing. Those who are listed as missing are presumed to have died in the accident. The accident is the second major ferry disaster in Indonesia in 2009. Earlier in the year, a ferry carrying more than 300 people capsized during bad weather in Majene, West Sulawesi, and more than 300 were killed in the disaster. [3]

The accident was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Committee. The investigation revealed that the superstructure's front wall of the ferry wasn't strong enough to counter-act the force of the wave. The wave struck the ferry repeatedly and subsequently damaged the front wall. As it was cracked by the wave, water managed to enter the main deck. The wave struck the ferry repeatedly, which ultimately caused the subsequent flooding of the deck. As the deck was flooded with water, the ferry lost its ability to float. [3]

Sinking

Dumai Express 10 regularly operated a ferry service from the city of Batam, Riau Islands to Dumai, Riau with a stopover in Karimun Regency. It was a daily service and the trip usually took about 7 – 8 hours. The ferry had 3 decks and a capacity of at least 250 passengers and crew. On 22 November 2009, at 08:05 local time (UTC+7), the ferry departed Sekupang Ferry Terminal with 329 passengers and crew. The weather at the time was still in good condition. [3]

The ferry was cruising at a speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph). The ferry then arrived at an area called as Karang Banteng at 08:23 local time and the Captain then changed the heading of the ferry. At 08:44, the ferry reached Nipah Island. Several minutes later, after it had passed Nipah Island, the weather deteriorated and the waves became higher, with an estimated height of 2.5–4 metres (8.2–13.1 ft). Windspeed reached 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph). The owner of the ferry told the captain to continue to Dumai. [3]

At 09:28 local time, as huge waves slammed the ferry repeatedly, the crew heard the sound of a crack near the bridge. A crew was ordered by the captain to check the origin of the sound. The crew spotted that a crack had formed on the front wall and water had rushed into the passenger area. Passengers who noticed this started to panic. The crew raised his observation to the Captain. The Captain then changed the heading of the ferry and turned the ferry to the island of Iyu Kecil. [3]

Huge waves struck the ferry repeatedly from the front, causing large quantity of water to enter the passenger area. The water entered the deck from the air conditioning shaft. Due to the large amount of water, the ferry started to tilt to its portside and its bow started to sink. The stern started to rise. The captain decided to stop the ferry and began to evacuate the passengers. As the ferry sank further, eyewitness stated that the crack on the wall burst and large amount of water immediately rushed to the passenger area. [3]

The ferry had three decks, mainly the main deck (main passenger area), the lower deck, and the upper deck (VIP area). The water initially flooded the main deck, however it later managed to flood the lower deck as well. Panicking passengers rushed to the door, causing a massive build-up. This build-up worsened the listing of the ferry. Most people rushed to the ferry's stern (the back), which was raised due to the sinking of the bow. Many people had to crawl and hold onto the seats as the ferry listed severely. According to survivors, several people on the front part of the lower deck were unable to escape due to the angle of the list and the large amount of water. Several children had lost their grips from their parents due to the panic. Several passengers smashed the side windows to escape while others immediately jumped into the water even though the crew had not finished inflating the lifeboats. The bad weather condition severely hampered the evacuation process. [3]

At 09:55, Dumai Express 10 was fully submerged and sank. [3]

Search and rescue

First report was received by officials at around 10:30 local time. Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency immediately deployed 5 patrol ships to the area. [4] Ferries and other fishing boats joined the rescue effort. 180 survivors were rescued while 1 body was recovered by rescue team. At the time, 59 people were still listed as missing. [4] The evacuation was slow due to bad weather in the area. [5] Crisis centre was set up in Dumai. [6] On the evening of 22 November, 18 bodies were recovered from the sea. Among the dead bodies were two infants. 261 were able to be rescued from the sea. [7] As of 22 November, the death toll was at 22. [8]

On 23 November, Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency reported that 30 people were killed [9] and dozens were listed as missing. [10] Among the dead was the owner of the ferry, Boheng, who was also the head of PT. Lestari Indomas Bahari, the company that operated the ferry. [11] Passengers recalled that the last time they saw him he was giving his lifejacket to a passenger who was pleading for help. [12] The Central Crisis Centre in Karimun had prepared hundreds of body bags. The house of the regent of Karimun Regency Nurdin Basirun was used as a temporary shelter for the survivors and as a crisis centre. [9] 14 ships, including 3 military ships, and helicopter were dispatched to the area. [13] However, the weather in the area was still in adverse condition. Huge waves hampered the search and rescue effort. The propeller of a Search and Rescue ship got damaged after being struck by high waves in the area. [14] Officials stated that several additional body bags were retrieved from Karimun Regional Hospital and Karimun Harbour. [13] The number of survivors were revised to 255. [12] One body was repatriated to Riau. [15]

On 25 November, officials deployed 21 units of ship, including 4 military ships, to the area. The Indonesian Navy and Indonesian Customs joined the search and rescue operation. The search and rescue effort was still hampered by rough waves. [16] 14 bodies were repatriated to Dumai and 105 survivors were returned to Batam. [17] Officials stated that 5 bodies had been recovered from the sea. [3]

On 28 November, the search and rescue operation was stopped by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency. [18] Officials stated that 40 bodies were found during the operation, while 35 people were still missing. [3]

Salvage

After the discontinuation of the search and rescue operation, relatives of the missing pleaded to officials to resume rescue effort. They asked rescuers to find the wreckage of the sunken ferry and search for more bodies, as they believed that most of the missing were trapped inside. [18] Members of the rescue team then started an operation to locate the wreckage. Planes and ships equipped with sonar were deployed to the area. [3]

On 2 December, at 16:00 local time, the wreckage of the ferry was located by KRI Pulau Romang, an Indonesian military ship. [19] The wreckage was at a depth of 40 meters and was about 2 kilometers from the location of the sinking. [20] Divers were sent to the area. They managed to retrieve two more bodies from the wreckage, bringing the death toll to 42. However, 33 people were still missing. Several relatives of the victims asked authorities to recover the sunken ferry. [21] [22]

Passengers and crew

There were confusion on the number of the passengers and crew aboard the ferry. [23] An Indonesian health official indicated that the ship was carrying 291 people; although the ferry had a capacity of 273, overloading is common. [24] Captain Johan Napitupulu denied that the ferry was overcrowded and indicated that they had no warning of a storm at the time of departure. [25] The passenger manifest indicated that 228 passengers were aboard the ferry. [26] Subsequent investigation revealed that the ferry was also carrying passengers with no tickets. [3] 20 infants and 7 children were confirmed to be aboard. [3] Officials stated that 13 crewswere aboard, later finalizing the number of the total passengers and crew aboard to 329. [3]

A criminal investigation was launched by the police. On 24 November, a press conference was held by the Ministry of Transportation. They mentioned about the overloading issue and warned officials who were responsible for it would be fired or disciplined. There were reports that officials from the harbour accepted money from passengers so the passengers could board the ferry that had been loaded nearly its maximum capacity. Members of the NTSC added that the case of the sinking might be handed over to the Indonesian Court of Shipping. [27]

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Committee stated that it will investigate on the operation of the ferry, the crew performance and the design and construction of the ferry. [3]

Cracks in the superstructure

Multiple witnesses stated that water entered the passenger area through cracks that had been formed by the strong rough waves. Investigators stated that cracks were located near the bridge. Divers who checked the wreckage confirmed that cracks had formed on the superstructure's front wall. Since there was no drainage on the bridge area of the main deck, the water flooded the area. The flooding of the main deck caused the ferry to lose its ability to float due to free surface effect. The bow also started to sink and the ferry started to list to its portside. [3]

Construction workers stated that the superstructure's front wall of the ferry was using FRP, with a fiber thickness of 8 fiber layers. The wall of the bow was reinforced with some sturdy blocks. Calculation conducted by investigators revealed that the blocks weren't strong enough to hold the structural integrity of the superstructure. Investigators stated that the since the superstructure was built with FRP materials, the superstructure was prone to impact load. Prior to the sinking, the ferry was travelling at a speed of approximately 26 knots. As it was travelling against the waves, the force of the waves was powerful enough to tore the superstructure. Eyewitness confirmed that the force was so strong that a television, which was placed behind the wall, fell to the floor due to the impact. [3]

Investigators stated that typically, a fiber layer was accompanied with resin and catalyst. If the proportion between resin and catalyst was high, then the superstructures would become brittle. Inspection on the wreckage showed that the catalyst on the fiber was higher than the amount of resin, confirming the investigators that the 4 mm thick front wall was easily breakable. [3]

Water in the ferry

Investigators noted that the forecastle deck of Dumai Express 10 was an open deck and was surrounded by bulwark. Due to this, water couldn't immediately leave the deck and subsequently trapped inside the deck. Continuous impact by the waves weaken the wall. The weak structure of the wall caused the forming of hole. The water leaked into the air conditioning shaft, flooding the front portion of the main passenger area and later managed to reach the access port of the cargo compartment, which was located near the shaft. The lid wasn't waterproof, so water immediately leaked into the cargo compartment. [3]

Poor crew professionalism

Had the captain of the ferry discontinued the journey to Dumai, the disaster would have been averted. Investigators noted that the captain was experienced enough to recognize that the weather at the time was not suitable for a ferry to operate. Further investigations revealed that he had not followed the correct procedure for on board emergency. The captain should've sent distress signal to the authorities on the land. [3]

Testimonies collected from survivors revealed that there was no coordination from the crew. The crowd control was poor and panic was not contained. There were no instructions from the crew on how to react during an emergency. Due to this, several passengers took their own initiatives. Several of the passengers started to smash the windows while others immediately jumped onto the sea. [3]

The crew should have also conducted damage control on the ferry. Survivors stated that the crew never attempted to decrease the volume of water or at least tried to fix the problem. Investigators noted that the crew were not trained enough to deal with such situation. The crew did not understand the emergency procedure well enough due to their high roster time. They were also not properly supervised by the company and correct regulation implementation was not effectively done by the company. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

MS <i>al-Salam Boccaccio 98</i>

The MS al-Salam Boccaccio 98 was an Egyptian Ro/Ro passenger ferry, operated by El Salam Maritime Transport, that sank on 3 February 2006 in the Red Sea en route from Duba, Saudi Arabia, to Safaga in southern Egypt.

MV <i>Levina 1</i>

The Levina 1 was an Indonesian passenger ferry. On 22 February 2007, it caught fire, killing at least 51 people. Three days later, on 25 February, it sank with a group of journalists and investigators on board, killing at least one more and leaving three missing.

MV <i>Salem Express</i> Car and passenger ferry wrecked off the Egyptian coast

The Salem Express was a passenger ship that sank in the Red Sea. It is notable due to the heavy loss of life which occurred when she sank shortly after striking a reef at around 11:13pm on Saturday December 14, 1991.

Sinking of MV <i>Teratai Prima</i>

The sinking of MV Teratai Prima occurred on January 11, 2009, around 04:00 local time when a ferry carrying more than 300 people capsized in the Makassar Strait off West Sulawesi, Survivors stated that the ferry had been slammed by 4-metre (13 ft) waves twice. The first one hit so hard that the ship became unbalanced, before another wave hit from a different direction and sank the vessel.

<i>Tampomas II</i> Indonesian passenger ship that caught fire in 1981

KMP Tampomas II was a roll on-roll off car and passenger ferry owned by the Indonesian shipping company Pelni that burned and sank in the Java Sea while sailing from Jakarta to Ujung Pandang, South Sulawesi on 27 January 1981. This disaster resulted in the deaths of hundreds of passengers.

2016 (MMXVI) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2016th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 16th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 7th year of the 2010s decade.

2016 Indonesian Police PZL M28 Skytruck crash

On 3 December 2016, a PZL M28 Skytruck of the Indonesian National Police disappeared above the South China sea while approaching Hang Nadim Airport in Riau Islands. The aircraft was conducting a flight from Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, the capital of Bangka Belitung province. The aircraft was carrying three pilots and ten passengers with no survivors on the aircraft. A search and rescue team was assembled by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency with assistance from Singapore.

MV Sinar Bangun sank on 18 June 2018 in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia, during its trip from Simanindo Harbour in Samosir Island to Tiga Ras Harbour in Simalungun Regency. The ferry was carrying 188 passengers and crew. After the sinking, authorities immediately deployed search and rescue personnel to the area. Twenty-one survivors were rescued, three bodies were found and 164 people were listed as missing and presumed dead.

Sinking of MV <i>Marina Baru 2B</i>

The sinking of MV Marina Baru 2B occurred just after noon on 19 December 2015. The high speed vessel carrying 112 passengers and crew sank off the coast of Bone, South Sulawesi in inclement weather conditions. A nine-day search and rescue operation, conducted by authorities, successfully rescued 45 survivors and recovered 65 bodies from the sea. Twelve people were declared missing and presumed dead.

MV <i>Lestari Maju</i> Cargo ship

MV Lestari Maju was a modified 749 tonnes cargo ship that operated domestic passenger service from Bulukumba Regency to Selayar Islands in South Sulawesi. At noon on 3 July 2018, the ship was deliberately grounded off the Selayar Islands. The ferry had reportedly suffered a leak on the port side of the lower deck. As the ferry began to sink, the captain decided to ground the ferry to stop the sinking and ease the rescue effort. The incident killed 35 people; 155 people survived the accident.

Lion Air Flight 610 2018 aircraft crash in the Java Sea, Indonesia, killing 189

Lion Air Flight 610 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, Jakarta to Depati Amir Airport, Pangkal Pinang in Indonesia. On 29 October 2018, the Boeing 737 MAX operating the route crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after takeoff, killing all 189 passengers and crew. It was the first major accident involving the new Boeing 737 MAX series of aircraft, introduced in 2017, and the highest death toll of any accident or incident involving the entire Boeing 737 series, Original, Classic, Next Generation or MAX, surpassing Air India Express Flight 812 in 2010. It was the deadliest accident in Lion Air's history, surpassing the 2004 Lion Air Flight 538 that killed 25, and the second deadliest aircraft accident in Indonesia behind Garuda Indonesia Flight 152.

Sinking of MV <i>Wahai Star</i> 2007 boating accident in Indonesia

The sinking of MV Wahai Star occurred on the night of 10 July 2007, when a speedboat tugged by the ferry accidentally crashed into its stern, resulting in a major leak. In the following days, rescuers managed to save 43 people, while 16 bodies were recovered in the nearby waters.

Sinking of MV <i>Acita 03</i> The sinking of MV Acita 03 in Sulawesi

The sinking of MV Acita 03 occurred on the night of 18 October 2007 when a ferry carrying 174 passengers and crews accidentally capsized during its docking in Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi. 134 passengers and crews survived the disaster while 30 passengers and 1 crew member lost their lives. 9 people were listed as missing and presumed dead.

MV Lintas Timur was an Indonesian cargo ship which sank off the eastern coast of Sulawesi on 1 June 2019. The sinking of the vessel caused all but one of the ship's eighteen crew to be lost at sea.

<i>Zahro Express</i> disaster 2017 ferry disaster in Indonesia

The Zahro Express disaster occurred on the morning of 1 January 2017 when an Indonesian-flagged wooden passenger vessel caught fire in the waters of Thousands Islands Regency, off the coast of Jakarta. She was travelling from Jakarta's Muara Angke to Tidung Island, a popular tourist destination. The ferry, named MV Zahro Express, was carrying 216 passengers and 5 crew members. Of the 221 passengers and crews, a total of 24 people on board lost their lives.

MV <i>Laut Teduh 2</i>

MV Laut Teduh II was an Indonesian-flagged double-ended RO/RO passenger ferry that served the route from Port of Merak in Java and Port of Bakauheni in Sumatra, one of the busiest ferry route in Indonesia. She was built in 1988 in England and was registered as Laut Teduh II in 2007.

KRI <i>Tanjung Nusanive</i> (973)

KRI Tanjung Nusanive (973) was a troop ship of the Indonesian Navy. The ship was built at Meyer Werft, Papenburg and completed in 1984 as passenger ferry KM Kambuna of the state-owned Pelni shipping company. KM Kambuna served with Pelni until 2005 when she was transferred to the Indonesian Navy, which operated the ship until its decommissioning in early 2020.

Sinking of the MS <i>Estonia</i> 1994 maritime disaster on Baltic Sea

The MS Estonia sank on Wednesday, 28 September 1994, between about 00:50 and 01:50 (UTC+2) as the ship was crossing the Baltic Sea, en route from Tallinn, Estonia, to Stockholm, Sweden. The sinking was one of the worst maritime disasters of the 20th century. It is one of the deadliest peacetime sinkings of a European ship, after the RMS Titanic in 1912 and the RMS Empress of Ireland in 1914, and the deadliest peacetime shipwreck to have occurred in European waters, with 852 lives lost.

KRI <i>Tanjung Kambani</i> Ferry of the Indonesian Navy

KRI Tanjung Kambani (971) is a troopship of the Indonesian Navy. She was built in 1982 as ro-ro ferry and previously named Kobe Maru, Car Ferry Cheju No.2 and Dong Yang Express Ferry No.6.

Sinking of MV Windu Karsa

MV. Windu Karsa was an Indonesian-flagged double-ended RO/RO ferry that served the route from Luwu, South Sulawesi to Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi. Built in Fujiwara Shipyard in 1980, she has served in Indonesia for more than 20 years.

References

  1. ↑ Cassidy, Katie (22 November 2009). "Indonesia Ferry Sinking: 240 Rescued". Sky News. Archived from the original on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  2. ↑ "How Tragic The Dumai Express 10 Tragedy was". Kompas . 23 November 2009. Archived from the original on 26 November 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "Final Report" (PDF) (in Indonesian). NTSC. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Kapal Dumai Express 10 Tenggelam, 59 Penumpang Hilang". Tempo. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  5. ↑ Maghrifie, Lusi Catur (22 November 2009). "Evakuasi Kapal Dumai Ekspres Terkendala Cuaca Buruk". Okezone. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  6. ↑ Haruddin Tanjung, Banda (22 November 2009). "Kapal Tenggelam di Kepri, Polisi Dirikan Posko". Okezone. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  7. ↑ Diputra, Rizka (22 November 2009). "Korban Tewas Dumai Exspress X Jadi 18 Orang". Okezone. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  8. ↑ Diputra, Rizka (22 November 2009). "Korban Dumai Express Bertambah Jadi 22 Orang". Okezone. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Korban Dumai Express Bertambah Jadi 30 Orang". Okezone. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  10. ↑ Haruddin Tanjung, Banda (22 November 2009). "Puluhan Korban Kapal Dumai Expres Masih Dicari". Okezone. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  11. ↑ "Operator KM Dumai Express Ikut Tewas". Kompas. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  12. 1 2 "255 Korban Dumai Express Selamat". Tribun News. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Cuaca Buruk Halangi Pencarian Korban Dumai Express". Antara News. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Cuaca Persulit Pencarian Korban". JPNN. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  15. ↑ "Satu Korban Dumai Express Tiba di Riau". Okezone. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  16. ↑ "Data Tak Akurat Sulitkan Pencarian". JPNN. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  17. ↑ Haruddin Tanjung, Banda (24 November 2009). "Disambut Isak Tangis, 14 Jenazah Sampai di Dumai". Okezone. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  18. 1 2 Haruddin Tanjung, Banda (30 November 2009). "Pencarian Korban Dumai Express Dihentikan". Okezone. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  19. ↑ Hidayat, Taufik (4 December 2009). "Bangkai Kapal Fery Dumai Ekspres Ditemukan". Okezone. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  20. ↑ "Bangkai Kapal Dumai Ekspres Ditemukan". Liputan6. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  21. ↑ "Kapal Perang Itu Temukan Bangkai Dumai Express 10". Kompas. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  22. ↑ "Keluarga Korban Hilang Minta Dumai Express Diangkat". Republika. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  23. ↑ Haruddin Tanjung, Banda (23 November 2009). "Jumlah Penumpang Dumai Express 10 Tak Jelas". Okezone. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  24. ↑ "Hundreds rescued after Indonesia ferry sinks". BBC News . 22 November 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  25. ↑ Arshad, Arlina. "Hundreds rescued as 29 die in Indonesia ferry sinking". Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  26. ↑ Haruddin Tanjung, Banda (22 November 2009). "Kapal Bawa 228 Penumpang Tenggelam di Kepri". Okezone. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  27. ↑ "Diduga Ada Transaksi Liar, Kapal Overload". JPNN. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2018.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.