Product Tanker Sinks in Indonesian Waters
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
1983-built chemical tanker Nusantara Akbar (built 1983) went down off Dumai in Indonesian waters of the Malacca Strait on Saturday after taking on water.
The 107-meter-long vessel, which reportedly suffered a leak in its engine room, started taking on water and subsequently sank.The vessel was carrying 7,000 tons of diesel at the time.
The body of the helmsman, 26, was found in a tank, while 26 other crew were evacuated from the Taruna Cipta Kencana ship.
Local reports suggest the engine room started taking on water and despite the best efforts of the crew to plug the leak, the master decided to evacuate within a couple of hours of the leak being found. Indonesian search and rescue teams were alerted and were quickly on the scene.
According to the Indonesian Coast Guard, as soon as the 6,703 dwt vessel sounded its emergency alarm the rescue crews were sent to the scene. Naval assets also took part in the rescue mission.
Authorities are now investigating how the accident happened, while salvors have been appointed to look at the wreck.