Search underway for man who fell overboard from Singapore-flagged passenger ferry

SINGAPORE - The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is conducting a search-and-rescue operation after a man had fallen overboard from a passenger ferry about 4km South-east of Kusu Island in the Singapore Strait on Thursday at about 7.30pm.

According to a statement issued by MPA, the Singapore-flagged ferry "ASEAN Raider 2"  was en route from Singapore's Regional Ferry Terminal (Harbour Front), to Batu Ampar, Batam, Indonesia when the incident happened.

Two MPA craft, one Police Coast Guard craft and one Republic of Singapore Navy patrol vessel are currently involved in the search-and-rescue.

MPA added that it is investigating the incident, and has issued urgent safety broadcast to vessels in the vicinity to keep a lookout and report any sightings of the missing person.

Kusu Island is part of Singapore's Southern Islands cluster, which includes Sentosa, Lazarus Island, Pulau Seringat, Pulau Tekukor, Saint John's Island, and the two Sisters' Islands.

grongloh@sph.com.sg