Missing KM Kawal Jaya 9 Crew Member Found Dead After Seven Days of Search

BINTAN | INDATANEWS.COM - A joint search and rescue (SAR) team has found Dinar, 51, a missing crew member of the KM Kawal Jaya 9, after seven days of searching. The man had been reported missing following a shipwreck in the waters north of Bintan, in Indonesia's Riau Islands Province. The team discovered him dead on Thursday, 5 November 2026, at 8.35 am local time (WIB), near the waters around Nikoi Island, in Teluk Bakau village, Bintan Regency.

The discovery brought the search for the crew member to an end. He had been missing since the KM Kawal Jaya 9 accident in the early hours of Friday, 30 October 2026. The joint SAR team had spent seven days searching the area for the man, who had jumped into the sea following the vessel's collision.

After locating him, the team recovered the body and transported it to the Kawal Community Health Centre (Puskesmas) in Bintan for further examination and handling. The operation thus concluded the search for the final missing victim of the accident.

Search Ends on Seventh Day

The KM Kawal Jaya 9 accident occurred in the early hours of Friday, 30 October 2026, in the waters north of Bintan. The vessel was carrying 14 people on board (POB) when a collision occurred. Crew member Dinar went missing after jumping into the sea.

The other 13 crew members survived the accident. The rescue team evacuated them on the day of the incident and transported all survivors to Kawal Harbour.

Meanwhile, the joint SAR team continued searching for Dinar in the waters north of Bintan. Various emergency response agencies took part in the operation, deploying personnel, operational resources and rescue equipment to systematically search the maritime area and locate the missing man.

The search continued for seven days before the team eventually discovered him near Nikoi Island. The discovery site was in the waters off Teluk Bakau village, Bintan Regency. The search operation for the crew member ended there.

The discovery on Thursday morning also brought certainty to the victim's family, who had been waiting for news since the shipwreck. Nevertheless, the incident left the victim's family and everyone involved in the rescue operation in deep mourning.

Basarnas Offers Condolences to the Family

Fazzli, head of the Tanjungpinang Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), extended his condolences to Dinar's family on behalf of the entire team. He also paid tribute to the efforts of all personnel involved in the joint SAR operation.

"On behalf of the entire Basarnas family in Tanjungpinang, we extend our deepest condolences to the victim's family. The discovery on the seventh day is the result of the hard work and cooperation of all forces involved in the joint SAR operation, including the armed forces and police, maritime authorities, and the fishing community, who tirelessly searched the waters," Fazzli said.

Fazzli emphasised that the discovery was the result of the collective efforts of all personnel involved in the search on the ground. Support from personnel across various agencies and local fishermen had played a significant role in searching the waters around Bintan.

This cooperation had been an important part of the operation, particularly given the extensive search area. Assistance from the various agencies enabled the team to continue searching until the missing man was finally found.

Basarnas Tanjungpinang subsequently held a debriefing to evaluate the progress of the SAR operation. Based on the findings, the team declared the search for the victim of the KM Kawal Jaya 9 accident complete and proposed that the operation be officially terminated.

SAR Operation Set to Be Officially Concluded

Fazzli said that all personnel involved in the joint SAR operation would return to their respective units once the operation had concluded. He also thanked all emergency response personnel and supporters who had contributed to the search from its first day.

"Based on the results of the debriefing, the SAR operation concerning the KM Kawal Jaya 9 accident is declared complete, and its termination is proposed. All SAR personnel involved will return to their respective units, with our gratitude," he said.

The SAR operation involved the Tanjungpinang SAR Office, USS Tanjung Uban, PLP Tanjung Uban, Lanal Bintan, Polair Bintan, the Berakit Marine Post, VTS Batam, and local fishermen.

All personnel deployed operational resources and rescue equipment to support the search. Coordination between the agencies was a decisive factor in the operation's progress, enabling the team to locate the missing man on the seventh day.

The involvement of local fishermen also highlighted the important role of coastal communities in search and rescue operations in maritime areas. Their support complemented the efforts of personnel from the armed forces and police, maritime authorities, and SAR teams searching the waters.

With Dinar's discovery, the joint rescue team has concluded the search for the final missing victim of the KM Kawal Jaya 9 accident. The other 13 crew members had survived on the day of the incident and had already been brought back to Kawal Harbour.

Basarnas Tanjungpinang praised all those involved for their efforts. The agency also extended its condolences to the victim's family following the tragic accident. (IDNC)

REPORTER: Jhon Fitra Sagala | EDITOR: Fik Sagala

One Crew Member Missing as SAR Team Searches for KM Kawal Jaya 9 off Bintan