All Indonesian Fishermen Lost in the Indian Ocean Are Saved

Dozens of fishing boats dock at a port in Tegal, Central Java on May 8, 2021. (Antara Photo/Oky Lukmansyah)

Jakarta. A Japanese fishing boat and an Australian Navy ship have rescued 20 Indonesian fishermen left stranded on the sea after their fishing boat KM Bandar Nelayan 118 sank about 650 nautical miles west of Perth, Australia, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. 

“The entire crew of the KM Bandar Nelayan 188, totaling 20 Indonesian citizens, were rescued,” the ministry said in the statement. The ministry said there were 26 Indonesian crew members on board, based on initial information, in an earlier statement. 

“Responding to a request for rescue assistance, a Japanese fishing boat near the location, FV Fukuseki Maru 15 managed to evacuate the entire crew of KM Bandar Nelayan 118 on May 15,” the ministry said. 

“Then the crew was transferred to the Australian Navy ship, HMAS Anzac, who arrived at the location to assist in the rescue and medical assistance,” the ministry said. 

The Foreign Affairs Ministry reported all crew members were in good health and did not show any Covid-19 symptoms. However, the Australian Navy has flown one of the crew members, identified as Darko, Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, to treat an infected wound on his finger.

Currently, HMAS Anzac was sailing to Bali to escort the remaining crew members, the ministry said. 

“The Indonesian government expressed its appreciation for the rescue operation carried out by the Australian Authorities and the support provided by Japanese fishing boats and various other parties so that the entire crew of KM Bandar Nelayan 118 could be rescued,” the ministry said. 

Indonesian Consulate General in Perth has been engaging with Australian Border Force (ABF), Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC), Royal Australian Navy, and Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) during the search and rescue process.

The consulate general would also accompany Darko to Perth’s Fiona Stanley Hospital during his stay at the hospital, the ministry said.