Levina 1

The "Levina 1" was an Indonesian passenger ferry. On February 22, 2007, it caught fire, killing at least 51 people. Three days later, on February 25, it sank with a group of members of the media and investigators on board, killing at least one more and leaving three missing.

Background

The "Levina 1" was a 2,000-ton vessel. [http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/world/BO44397/ Indonesia to probe why reporters were allowed on fire-gutted ferry] - WHDH-TV - Obtained March 1, 2007.] It was 27 years old, [http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=287092007 16 dead on blazing ferry as passengers jump into sea] - "The Scotsman" - Obtained March 25, 2007.] and owned and operated by PT Praga Jaya Sentosa. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailweekly.asp?fileid=20070225.@01 Death toll reaches 20 in ferry inferno] - "The Jakarta Post" - Obtained March 25, 2007.] It had been built in Japan.cite news|url=http://www.seatradeasia-online.com/News/1071.html|title=Spotlight intensifies on ferries after Levina 1 disaster|date=2007-02-27 |accessdate=2008-06-28 |publisher=Seatrade Asia] On the day of the accident, it was on a voyage from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, en route to the island of Bangka.

Fire

The vessel caught fire several hours after leaving port, prior to dawn, [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,253665,00.html?sPage=fnc.world/australia Indonesian Passenger Ferry Fire Kills 16] - Fox News - Obtained March 25, 2007.] at a location convert|60|nmi|km|-1 from the start port of Tanjung Priok. Hundreds of passengers escaped the burning ship by jumping into the Java Sea. Over 290 people had to be rescued. At least 51 people were killed in the disaster, [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailweekly.asp?fileid=20070227.@03 Investigators to carry on query despite sinking evidence] - "The Jakarta Post" - Obtained March 26, 2007.] but the Indonesian Red Cross says the number could be as much as 89. The ships log claimed the ship was carrying 228 passengers, 42 trucks and eight cars, but the navy claims it had at least 350 passengers on board. It is common for logs of passengers to be left uncompleted and boats to be overloaded in Indonesia. It is generally reported that 300-330 people were on board. In reference to the incomplete manifest, Transport Minister Hatta Rajasa said "It is a big mistake that the ferry company never registered the identity of children passengers. It is a big, big mistake. I am going to give them heavy sanctions for that,". [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=51251 Huge search for 120 missing in Indonesia ferry blaze] - Inquiror - Obtained March 27, 2007.]

Rescue effort

The ferry's sister ship, "Levina II", rescued many passengers, as did the Filipino ship "Princess Vanessa". [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=51069 17 dead, including 3 children, in Indonesian ferry inferno] - Inquirer - Obtained March 27, 2007.] In total, two warships, three helicopters, a tug boat and nine cargo ships participated in the search and rescue operation. The wounded were either transported straight to hospitals, or if necessary first treated at a makeshift centre set up at the port. 60 people were able to swim to a nearby island. [http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/02/21/ferry-fire.html 16 dead in fatal fire on Indonesian ferry] - CBC - Obtained March 25, 2007.]

inking

After the fire had been extinguished, tugboat "TB Jayakarta III" towed the ship into the waters of Tanjung Priok on February 24. The following day, a party of four investigators and twelve journalists were taken to the ship by a police boat. [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailweekly.asp?fileid=20070226.@01 Death toll rises as charred ferry sinks] - "The Jakarta Post" - Obtained March 25, 2007.] The reporters came from the "Indosiar", "Metro TV", "ANTV", "Lativi", "RCTI" and "SCTV" TV stations and the "Elshinta" radio station. Many of those who boarded did not put on lifevests; although they had been available, the police had not made them mandatory. The ferry was still under tow at the time, being seven nautical miles (13 km) from the port itself. It was already listing slightly prior to the party boarding the wreck, and the group had been previously warned the ferry wasn't safe. The Indonesian investigative authority, the KNKT, had not given the group permission to board, but they saw other journalists on board, and followed suit. Once onboard the hulk, the journalists went to deck three where they interviewed the head of the city's Water Police, Adj. Sr. Comr. Frederik Kalembang. Shortly after the party boarded the vessel, it suddenly listed sharply. Police officers monitoring the vessel from a nearby boat used a loudspeaker to order an immediate evacuation of the ship. Most of those on board rushed down to deck two, where they escaped via a window at the end of the deck. The ship sank within five minutes. One six-man lifeboat nearly capsized due to being heavily overloaded. One "Lativi" cameraman subsequently died in hospital, [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=51535 1 dead, 3 missing as gutted Indonesian ferry wreck sinks - Death toll from fire now 42] - Inquirer.net - Obtained March 27, 2007.] and three other people were left unaccounted for. The missing people are two police forensics officers and a "SCTV" cameraman. [http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2007/02/22/3654248-ap.html Wrecked Indonesian ferry sinks with investigating police, reporters on board] - cnews - Obtained March 25, 2007.] Four more people were seriously injured. [http://www.townhall.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ContentGuid=9f08f18e-67cf-41f6-9937-b3b55e55c408 Wrecked Indonesian Ferry Sinks; 1 Dies] - TownHall.com - Obtained March 26, 2007.] Subsequent diving operations on the wreck failed to locate the bodies of the deceased.

Investigation

A full investigation was launched after the twin disasters by the National Transport Safety Committee and the Police Forensic Laboratory. So far, the investigation has established that the fire started in a truck on the car deck. It is believed to have been a chemical fire, as the ship's crew reported that when they attempted to douse the tarpaulin-covered truck with water the ferocity of the fire increased. The trucker's ticketing agency shows that one of the trucks was loaded with cases of premixed petroleum, a rare and expensive commodity in Indonesia. The ship's captain was interviewed as part of the investigative procedure. Preliminary reports suggest that negligence on the part of the operator contributed to the disaster. The investigation has also revealed that no inspection of the boat's documents was conducted prior to departure. The vessel's skipper, as well as four other crew members, were also the subject of a criminal investigation regarding possible negligence. [http://mwcnews.net/content/view/12781/1/ Rescuers search for ferry survivors] - MWC News - Obtained March 27, 2007.]

Aftermath

Setyo Rahardho, head of the National Transport Safety Commission, said that "Journalists will not be allowed to accompany investigators any more," in the aftermath of the disasters. Hatta Radjasa, Indonesian minister for transportation, personally ordered the Directorate of Sea Transportation to revoke the operator's license in response to the incorrect documentation. The directorate did so, and also suspended local harbourmaster J. Karelantang over his responsibility regarding the misleading documents. The captain, Andi Kurniawan and the first officer, Sunaryo, (who only goes by one name, a common practice in Indonesia) were arrested after the disaster on suspicion of contributing to the disaster via negligence.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reiterated an offer made to Indoensia in late 2006 to assist with aiding ferry safety after the losses of "Senopati Nusantara" and "Tri Star 1" killed over 400 between them. This time Indonesia accepted and the IMO made a number of recommendations which resulted in the establishment of an action plan.cite news|url=http://www.imo.org/Newsroom/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1518&doc_id=8544|title=Maritime Safety Committee, 83rd session: 3-12 October 2007|date=2007-10-03 |accessdate=2008-06-28 |publisher=International Maritime Organization]

References