Cargo ship reported missing in Indonesian waters

Indonesian authorities have begun conducting a search operation to attempt to locate a cargo vessel that disappeared in the Arafura Sea off Western New Guinea late last week.

Officials said the locally-registered general cargo vessel Mutia Ladjoni 7 was en route to Borneo with a crew of 16 when radio contact with it was lost on Friday, November 11.

The ship was originally scheduled to make a bunkering stop at the Port of Dobo in the Maluku Islands before proceeding to Borneo with an estimated arrival on Tuesday, November 15.

The owner’s representatives said they attempted to make contact with the ship on Saturday, November 12. However, since the representatives were unable to make contact and no distress calls were sent by the crew at any time, they reported that the ship had gone missing.

The Indonesian Navy and regional police units are also participating in the search while the crews of some local fishing vessels have been instructed to be on the lookout for the ship or its crew.