Working Conditions Aboard the Km.lambelu

In a concerning development, 26 of the 42 crew members aboard the KM 'Lambelu' have tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing swab tests in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, on April 12. Ichsan Mustari, the head of the local health agency, confirmed the results during a video conference held that evening. Currently, all 42 crew members are in quarantine offshore, awaiting further assessment. A follow-up testing session is set for April 13, during which an additional 99 crew members from the vessel, owned by the state-operated PT Pelni, will be tested. The KM 'Lambelu' reached Makassar on April 10 after departing from Maumere in East Nusa Tenggara, transporting a total of 141 individuals. Previously, the ship was denied docking at Lorens Say Port in Maumere on the orders of Sikka regent Fransiskus Roberto Diogo when it was reported that three individuals on board had already tested positive for the virus. Consequently, passengers were quarantined in Sikka regency on April 7, leading to immediate rapid testing. Following these findings, the vessel was directed to Makassar, where further checks were mandated for the remaining passengers. As of now, the ferry is anchored two nautical miles from Soekarno-Hatta Port in Makassar, with all individuals on board still barred from disembarking.

In a startling incident aboard the KM 'Lambelu', hundreds of passengers were left in disbelief after learning that the ferry, which serves connections between Kalimantan, Java, Sulawesi, and Flores islands, was barred from docking in Maumere, Sikka Regency, following its arrival from Tarakan, East Kalimantan, on April 7, 2020. The situation unfolded at Lorens Say Port in Maumere, where authorities initially rejected the vessel's request to dock. As tensions rose among the passengers, five individuals took drastic measures by jumping off the ferry while donning lifejackets, seeking to escape the uncertainty onboard. Fortunately, a local search and rescue team quickly came to their aid, ensuring their safe recovery without any injuries reported from the drop. Sikka regent Fransiskus Roberto Diogo expressed his frustrations towards the provincial transport agency for permitting the ferry's approach, leading to initial refusal for docking. However, later that evening, he authorized the KM 'Lambelu' to dock for humanitarian reasons. The ship, carrying 238 passengers and crew, was then placed under quarantine for precautionary measures, with close observation in place for at least several days. Among the crew, three members suspected to have contracted COVID-19 tested positive using rapid test kits and are set to undergo nasal swab tests for confirmation. For further details, watch the report here: https://coconuts.co/bali/news/ferry-carrying-suspected-covid-19-patients-denied-entry-in-ntt-passengers-jump-off-in-panic-video/

The 'Lambelu', operated by Indonesian National Shipping (Pelni), is back in service after a successful salvage operation conducted in collaboration with the Port of Tarakan authorities. The vessel was successfully freed on October 26 at 3:15 PM. Following its recovery, the ferry was transported to Tarakan for an extensive inspection by the Shipping Society of Indonesia, which took place on October 28. Prior to the inspection, on October 27, divers had already surveyed the hull, confirming that the vessel had sustained no damage and was deemed seaworthy. At 12:15 AM on October 29, the 'Lambelu' was released and made its way to Nunukan before continuing its journey to Toli-Toli, Pare-Pare, Makassar, and Kupang. The incident leading to the ferry’s grounding occurred when the 'Lambelu' attempted to evade a collision with the tugboat 'Sea Oval', which was towing a barge. In doing so, the ferry veered to port instead of starboard, resulting in it running aground at 2:53 AM. The evacuation of passengers trapped on the ferry lasted from October 23 to October 25. For detailed coverage and photos, visit the sources: [Kaltara Prokal](http://kaltara.prokal.co/read/news/7347-km-lambelu-bakal-mangkrak-ditarik-pekan-depan.html) and [Netz](https://netz.id/news/2016/10/22/00516-01616/1006221016/km-lambelu-kandas-di-tarakan-ratusan-penumpang-terkurung?src=ec).