Blasts aboard Indonesian Tanker Leave One Dead, Three Missing

Three people are missing and one died after three blasts ripped through Indonesian-flagged product tanker Java Bonitos while the ship was passing through the Bangka Strait, off southern Sumatra, the Java Sea on August 15th, local media report.

The explosions are said to have originated from the tanker’s engine room resulting in a fire that spread across the vessel’s hull. There were 21 crew members aboard when the accident occurred.

The captain ordered the crew to jump overboard. Four crew members are feared dead, while the remaining 17 have been rescued but have sustained burns.

The abandoned tanker was left drifting in the area and salvors had to wait for the hull to cool down before boarding the tanker to look for the missing crew.

The vessel, operated by Jalur Anugerah of Jakarta, was heading from Palembang Sumatra to Jakarta loaded with condensate.

[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff, August 19, 2014; Image: metroterkini