REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATAM -- "KM Nurah" vessel carrying 12 persons of foreign researchers, officials of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), personnel of the maritime and fisheries affairs ministry and eight ship crew sank at the Anambas waters on Saturday night.

"The accident happened last night. We tried to rescue all crew members and the passengers of the ship, and it was successful," Marine Security Force commander of the Western Fleet Commodore Rasyid said here on Sunday.

All ship crew and passengers survived after about three hours of bobbing in the ocean.

Initially, the researchers will study the wealth of coral reefs in the Anambas waters, before the ship having leaked and drowned.

Rasyid further said all victims were found on Sunday (March 15) at about 1.00 a.m. local time.

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