Seven fishermen from Biak Numfor, Papua finally arrived safely at Porasko Port in Jayapura city (Jubi)
Jayapura , 14/3 ( Jubi ) – Seven fishermen from Biak Numfor, Papua finally arrived safely at Porasko Port in Jayapura city, Papua on Friday (14/3).
Earlier, they were reported missing and had been drifted for two months in Wiwek region, waters of Papua New Guinea (PNG). These seven people are Mansur (42) as the ship’s captain, Sirajudin ( 39), Sahar (22), Asrul (26), Hamzah (21), Anwar (35) and Asdar (25). They were stranded with Motor Vessel ( KM ) of Jabal Rahma KLM . GT 27 NOI – 45/MML.
These fishermen found by Philippine -flagged vessels in Pasific waters then sent to Papua New Guinea (PNG). Then Alen Simarmata, Indonesian Consulate in Vanimo took them back to Jayapura city.
Once arrived at the Porasko port, these fishermen was picked up by Indonesian diplomat in PNG Jahar Gultom then handed to provincial government of Papua, in this case represented by the Head of Border and Foreign Relations, Suzanna Wanggai.
Based on information gathered, the ship departed on January 18, carried foodstuffs to Mamberamo Raya regency. Yet after two days of sailing, the ship was hit by waves as high as approximately three feet and caused the engine damaged. The ship then was float off by the waters to the Pacific ocean.
” We got help from the Philippine -flagged vessels. They took us to dock about 500 feet in the waters of Kimbe, Wiwek ,PNG , ” the ship’s captain, Mansur told reporters in Jayapura on Friday (14/3).
According to Mansur, when they were in Wiwek waters, PNG, many local residents donated foods such as rice, vegetables, and clean water for consumption.
” We get so much help from local residents before picked up by Indonesian officers Consulate in Vanimo, ” he said .
He added they will continue their journey back to Biak. ” We hope that on Saturday morning (15/3) we will reach Biak Numfor to meet our family again, ” he said.
Jahar Gultom said there are actually nine people are listed as crew Ship Motor ( KM ) Jabal Rahma , but two of them were sent back to Bitung, North Sulawesi as a family request .
“In the negotiation process, we continued to convince PNG government that the nine people was not an escape yet they were stranded due to the huge waves of the sea , ” he told reporters in Jayapura, Papua on Friday (14/3).
Meanwhile, Suzanna Wanggai added that she knew from Jayapura Rescue Agency ( SAR) on January 26. ” So, we contacted the Indonesian consulate in Vanimo, ” she added.
“After waiting for a week, we finally received information from an Indonesian citizen named John Waromi who live in Wiwek. He reported that there is an Indonesian ship anchored about 500 meters away from Wiwek port. Based on this information, rescue and repatriation efforts began coordinated.” Suzzana explained. (Jubi/ Levi/ Tina)
