The Indonesian Navy has sent three warships respectively KRI Wiratno, KRI Karapu and KRI KAL, and one Nomad plane, to look for MV Rajawali fishing boat believed to have sunk in Belang waters last September 28, 2007, and its 12 crew members, ANTARA reported. "The three warships have been patrolling in water area suspected to be the location where the MV Rajawali sunk. However, they have not found any clues of the ship wreckage or the missing crew members, so far," Commander of the Bitung naval base VIII Commodore Edy Yusuf said here on Tuesday. Edy Yusuf suspected the 12 crew members had been drifted away by sea waves toward east so the Indonesian Navy`s search and rescue (SAR) team continued to trace the area to that direction. "The Indonesian Navy will continue to establish contacts with the Indonesian Air Force, the Police and the provincial SAR team during the rescue efforts," he said. Meanwhile, the Navy`s Nomad plane flew above isles located in the Lembek Straits and around Sangihe Island. The rescue efforts had to deal with huge waves and strong wind occurring in Sulawesi waters. MV Rajawali left Bitung harbor, North Sulawesi, for Ambon, Maluku Province, at around 5.00 am local time on September 28, 2007. The fishing boat was believed to have been hit by huge waves and developed a leak when it was sailing in Belang waters, Minahasa Tenggara District, North Sulawesi, on the same day of their departure (Sept. 28). The last contact with MV Rajawali was at 7.00 pm on Sept. 28. The boat was believed to have sunk at a position 12 miles from Belang.
