Ship fire tragedy Tampomas II told in the book “Hell in the Java Sea: Tampomas II” (1981). This book is the result of a reconstruction, equipped with data updates and additional interviews, on a pile of reporting documents for journalists from Sinar Harapan and Mutiara. READ ALSO – Japan Appoints Mitsubishi for Production of FX Stealth Aircraft
The writing team of journalists, among others, Aristides Katoppo, Panda Nababan, Umar Nur Zain, Agnes Samsuri, Gerson Poyk, and Harry Kawilarang. Bondan Winarno as writer.
The book presents scene after scene through such detailed descriptions in its 291 pages. Touching little stories, experienced by passengers, crew, and helpers.
In the sink Tampomas II, There are allegations of irregularities related to the 10-year-old used ship. The poor condition of the ship is described. The purchase chronology is displayed. Suspicious figures were exposed. However, all data is still placed as a complement to the story.
Tampomas is the name of a mountain in Sumedang, West Java. He became the name for the ship operating since May 1980 under the banner of PT PELNI. This second-hand, old, and unkempt ship has to work as hard as a new ship. Finally, drowned, as many as 666 people became victims.
This used ship was purchased through PT Pembangunan Armada Niaga Nasional (PANN) from the Japanese company Comodo Marine Co. SA at a price of USD 8.3 million. Tampomas II was manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Shimonoseki, Japan, in 1956-1956 with a width of 22 meters and a length of 125.6 meters.
This ship is a Roll on Roll off type with a screw type and has a dead weight of 2419690 dwt. This ship was re-modified in 1971 so that it can be driven at a speed of 19.5 knots.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the purchase of ships was recorded on February 23, 1980 with Junus Effendi Habibie alias Fanny Habibie, the younger brother of BJ Habibie, acting as Chairman of the Steering Committee (SC) for the purchase. But he refused to be responsible for the ship’s specifications.
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