Container vessel that sank near Batam reported ‘significant functional leakage’ just before incident

Nine Indonesian sailors have been safely rescued after their Tanzanian-flagged container vessel, MV Golder Star I, sank in the Singapore Strait on the evening of June 5.

The Batam port authorities received notification of the ship's distress around 9:30 p.m. According to M. Takwim Masuku, head of the Batam Special Port Master and Port Authorities Office (KSOP), the 1,479 gross tonne vessel reported "significant functional leakage" at its forepeak shortly before it went down. This emergency condition caused the ship, en route from Singapore to Pasir Gudang, Malaysia, to lose its balance.

Less than 15 minutes after the severe leakage was detected, 107 containers detached from the vessel and drifted into the open sea. The ship, skippered by Ageng Sulistiawan, subsequently sank outside the Vessel Traffic Information System East. One container reportedly washed ashore on Sambu Kecil Island.

Batam KSOP's sea patrol immediately deployed the KNP 376 patrol ship to the scene for the rescue operation, prioritizing the evacuation of all crew members. All nine sailors, who are Indonesian nationals, were safely transferred to the KNP 376 and then to Bintang 99 Pier in Batam. Their health was checked by the Batam Health Quarantine Agency, and they were handed over to the Water and Air Police Unit for further medical examination.

Authorities are now concerned about the 107 drifting containers, which pose a significant navigation hazard in the busy Singapore Strait. The Batam Vessel Traffic Station is broadcasting hourly navigational warnings to alert passing vessels. The Malacca and Singapore Straits are among the world's most critical maritime corridors, connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

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The emergency condition made the ship sailing from Singapore to Pasir Gudang, Malaysia, to lose its balance.