Singapore-bound ferry from Batam collides with tanker; no reports of injury, pollution, says MPA
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Singapore-bound ferry Horizon 9 collided with Marshall Islands-registered tanker La Digue off the Southern Islands at about 5pm on Nov 10.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
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SINGAPORE – Two vessels, including one ferry carrying 165 passengers from Batam to Singapore, collided in the city state’s waters on Nov 10.
There were no reports of injury, and all the passengers and seven crew members on the ferry safely disembarked at HarbourFront Centre, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Nov 11.
The Singapore-registered passenger ferry Horizon 9 was en route to HarbourFront Centre when it collided with the Marshall Islands-registered tanker La Digue off the Southern Islands at about 5pm on Nov 10, said MPA.
The Indonesian media reported on Nov 10 that the ferry was travelling from Batam to Singapore when the incident happened.
An MPA patrol craft was deployed to escort and guide the ferry to HarbourFront Centre.
The ferry sustained some damage to its bow above the waterline, but remained fully operational while en route to the ferry terminal at HarbourFront Centre, said MPA. The tanker did not report any damage.
The passenger ferry Horizon 9 sustained some damage to its bow above the waterline, but remained fully operational while en route back to HarbourFront Centre.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
MPA said there were no reports of pollution arising from the incident. “There was also no impact to navigational traffic or port operations,” it added.
MPA is investigating the incident.
Mr Junaidi, a passenger who was on board the ferry, told The Straits Times that prior to the collision, the ferry had suddenly swerved to the left.
He said the ferry’s engine was then turned off. The 43-year-old added that he noticed the ferry heading for the side of the tanker.
A loud bang was heard during the collision, he said.
“There was a slight commotion in the ferry as we initially thought that the damage was quite serious,” said Mr Junaidi, who declined to give his full name.
However, staff reassured passengers that the ferry had sustained only slight damage, he added.
Mr Junaidi said the authorities then escorted the ferry safely to HarbourFront terminal.
Another passenger, Mr Tedi Afrando, a 33-year-old content creator, said that after the ferry’s engine was turned off, the ship was tossed by waves and drifted towards the tanker.
When the collision happened, it was chaos on board, he added, with passengers uttering prayers.
ST has contacted Horizon Ferry for more information.
