The boat, known as the Da Hao and flying the Tanzanian flag, was found partly sunk near the peaceful village of Haka on Binongko island in Sulawesi. Caught in the fire near Binongko Island’s lighthouse cape, the ship’s upper parts were charred, and thick black smoke billowed from its stern, a stark reminder of the chaos caused by negligence.
This cargo ship often traveled between East Nusa Tenggara, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea. But disaster struck while it sailed in the Banda Sea, causing it to drift until it finally grounded. Luckily, Saludin, the head of the Togi Binongko sub-district, recounted how a passing ship from Singapore to Australia came to the rescue. They courageously saved all ten crew members, including eight Indonesians and two Chinese, whose lives were put in danger due to the ship’s unsafe conditions.
This incident highlights the significant risks posed by Chinese vessels in Indonesian waters, highlighting a pattern of negligence and disregard for maritime safety rules. Similar past incidents, like the interception of a Chinese fishing vessel near the Natuna Islands in 2016, have fueled tensions over maritime sovereignty and fishing rights in the South China Sea.
Additionally, Chinese ships have often clashed with vessels from Vietnam and the Philippines in disputed Southeast Asian waters, adding to regional tensions. The stranded Da Hao became a stark reminder of the environmental and human costs of such negligence, mainly as it had been detained in Papua New Guinea months before due to several safety deficiencies.
This incident underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of maritime safety regulations to hold China accountable and prevent future disasters. It’s a clear call for all nations to prioritize safety and environmental conservation in their naval activities, ensuring the protection of lives and ecosystems alike.
