Singapore Ferry Ran Aground, Passengers Safe

A Singapore-flagged ferry, Wavemaster 5, ran aground on the Karang Galang reef near the eastern coast of Batam on Saturday afternoon (March 02), with 50 passengers onboard.

According to Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), all 50 passengers and seven crew members on board the ferry, which was making its way from Indonesia to Singapore, are accounted for.

The Wavemaster 5 ferry was on its way to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal from Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia, when the boat ran aground, MPA said.

"At 1.55pm on 2 March 2019, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore received a report that a Singapore-flagged ferry, Wavemaster 5, ran aground at Karang Galang reef, off the eastern coast of Batam, Indonesia," MPA said.

"The ferry operator, Majestic Ferry, immediately activated another ferry, Wavemaster 6, to transfer all the passengers to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. All the passengers are accounted for and the ferry is in stable condition," it added.

There are no reports of injury or oil pollution. MPA is investigating the incident.