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Indonesian Navy continues to search for missing crewmen
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The Indonesian Navy catches a boat in Batam waters carrying 40 men to be illegally employed on ships on Dec. 6. (JP/Fadli)
T
he Indonesian Navy is facing a tough challenge from the weather in its efforts to search for the crewmen of the Navy vessel Layang, who have been out of contact since Dec. 14 while carrying out their duties in Talaud Islands regency in North Sulawesi.
"Due to the weather and geographical conditions in the location, we haven't managed to find the four missing crewmen," Navy spokesman Colonel Gig Jonias Mozes Sipasulta said in a press statement on Saturday.
The four crewmembers were lost while escorting a Philippines fishing boat that was netted by the Navy Layng 635 ship a day earlier.
The crewmembers were reportedly fully armed while escorting the boat to the nearest naval base.
The crewmembers also reported in hourly the Layang 635 vessel before losing contact.
(Read also: Global collaboration needed to combat illegal fishing: Jokowi)
Sipasulta said the search operation would also be carried out on land, involving Navy bases around the area such as the Melonguane, Morotai and Posal Tobelo Naval bases. Assistance from regional governments and the people around the area will also be needed, he added.
The Navy is coordinating with the Naval Fleet East Mindanao (NFEM) Command. The Philippines Navy also plans to offer assistance by deploying its BRP Mayat Salamat (PS-20) warship.
The Indonesian Navy has deployed six warships: the KRI Diponegoro, the KRI Layang, the KRI Sidat, the KRI Ahmad Yani, the Kari Lambung Mangkurat and the KRI Arun. It has also deployed two planes to assist in the operation. (fac/jun)
