TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The PMB VI mooring boat, owned by Pertamina's Marketing Operation Region (MOR) I, sank in the waters of Belawan, North Sumatra last night, September 10. Reports said that the boat was slammed by huge waves that came with the bad weather near the area of Pertamina's Fuel Oil Terminal.

The PMB VI had four crew on board. One of them, the captain, died during the incident.

"It happened last night at around 19:20 at the Single Point Mooring Belawan," Pertamina MOR I communication manager Roby Hervino said on Wednesday, September 11.

Hervino said that the crew members were just finishing up unloading the boat's cargo to the MT Enduro ship.

"As the PMB VI sailed away from MT. Enduro, the weather turned nasty suddenly and quickly. The PMB VI was hit by huge waves and strong winds, causing it to smash into the MT Enduro and capsized," Hervino said.

When the boat capsized, Hervino said, three crew members jumped into the waters. The captain, Rudi Prayoga from Medan City, died as he was trapped inside. The three crew members are safe.

Pertamina MOR I is still coordinating with the port authority and focusing on treating the victims.

"We haven’t started to search for the shipwreck," Hervino said.

Sahat Simatupang (Contributor)