SINGAPORE - A Singapore-flagged ferry ran aground at Karang Galang reef, off the eastern coast of Batam, Indonesia on Saturday afternoon (March 2).

In a statement, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), said that all 50 passengers and seven crew members on board the ferry, which was making its way from Indonesia to Singapore, are accounted for.

The spokesman said it received a report at 1.55pm on Saturday about the incident involving the ferry, named Wavemaster 5.

The ferry had left Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia and was heading for Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore when the incident happened.

The ferry operator, Majestic Ferry, activated another ferry, Wavemaster 6, to transfer all the passengers to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.

"All the passengers are accounted for and the ferry is in stable condition," said the MPA, adding that as of 5.50pm, all passengers have safely returned to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.

"Passengers were systematically disembarked and provided with some food, drinks and wet towels," it said.

Staff from government agencies like MPA, Immigration & Checkpoint Authority, Singapore Civil Defence Force and Singapore Police Force as well as staff from Majestic Ferry and Singapore Cruise Centre were on scene to assist affected passengers, said the MPA.

In addition, three patrol crafts were deployed by MPA and Police Coast Guard to escort the ferry to the terminal, it said.

Majestic Ferry also arranged for 30 taxis to send affected passengers to their homes or next destination free of charge.

There are no reports of injury or oil pollution, said the MPA, which is investigating the incident.