BANTEN INDONESIA (ISL News/March 7, 2026) — Pangkalan Kesatuan Penjaga Laut dan Pantai of Class 1 Tanjung Priok (PLP), Directorate General of Sea Transportation, Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia, also supported the implementation of medical evacuation (medevac) for the Captain of the MT. Elisabeth ship, Andrew Shushkien (41 years old), who experienced health problems while crossing the Sunda Strait waters.
The medical evacuation request was received through the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Merak – Tanjung Priok Navigation District, which was then immediately coordinated with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Maritime Command Center (MCC) of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, and the Command and Control Center (Puskodal) of the Tanjung Priok PLP, along with other related agencies.
According to reports, the victim was experiencing abdominal cramps and required immediate medical attention on land. To expedite the evacuation process, the MT. Elisabeth was directed to Merak waters so the medevac could be carried out quickly and safely.
The evacuation operation was carried out on Saturday (March 7, 2026), involving the KN SAR 247 Tetuka from the Banten Search and Rescue Office as the main component. The vessel departed from Bandar Bakau Jaya Pier to the ship's location to evacuate the victims.
In the operation, KN SAR 247 Tetuka carried a total of 29 people (Person On Board/POB) consisting of the ship's crew, Basarnas rescuers, personnel from the Indonesian National Police Headquarters and Banten Regional Police, Health Quarantine Center officers, Immigration officers, ship agents, and KPLP personnel from the KPLP Patrol Ship KN Golok-P.206 Class I PLP Base Tanjung Priok.
After the evacuation process was successfully carried out at sea, the victim was then taken to the BBJ Bojonegara Port and then referred to the Betsaida Cilegon Hospital for further medical treatment.
Head of the Tanjung Priok Class I PLP Base, Fourmansyah, SH, MM, MH, said that this medevec operation is part of the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of shipping in Indonesian waters.
According to him, synergy between agencies is a crucial factor in successfully handling emergencies at sea, so that the evacuation process can be carried out quickly, safely, and professionally.
The Tanjung Priok Class I PLP Base is always on standby to support shipping safety operations, handling emergencies at sea, and protecting the maritime environment in the Sunda Strait and surrounding areas.
Dharma Jala Prajatama
(ISL News Editorial Team/ Public Relations of PLP Class 1 Tg. Priok).
