On December 16, the 145 meter long, 10385 dwt cargo vessel Thorco Cloud sank after colliding with the 183 meter long, 37438 dwt tanker Stolt Commitment in the Singapore Strait near Batam Island. The Thorco Cloud was headed to Brazil with Steel when it was struck by the Stolt Commitment. Of the 12 crew on board the Thorco Cloud, six were later rescued. The remaining crew was reported as missing. The cause of the collision is under investigation.
On December 7, the 250 meter long, 62,448 dwt container ship Hanjin Aqua ran aground off Sangiang Island, Indonesia. The Hanjin Aqua was en route to Jakarta from Adelaide, Australia with 2300 containers when it struck bottom in the Sunda Strait. The container ship had its hull scrape against the rocky bottom causing multiple ballast tanks to be breached. No reports of injuries or pollution released. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
On November 29, the 23 meter long, 100 dwt passenger ferry Sea Prince struck an object near the Nongsapura ferry terminal. The Sea Prince had departed with 97 passengers and 7 crew when it struck a floating object off Batam. Passengers stated they hear a loud bang and then a sound of something scraping against the hull.
The Sea Prince tried to continue on its journey, but the ferry lost power. Passengers were ordered to don life vests and to evacuate to the vessel’s life rafts, but the life rafts tore and began to sink. The Sea Prince requested assistance and another ferry attempted to come to their aid. However, the water was too shallow for the ferry to get close to the Sea Prince. Small wooden boats were able to reach the Sea Prince. All the passengers were transferred to the small boats and taken ashore. No reports of injuries. Indonesian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.