PALEMBANG, Kompas – High wave and bad weather hamper shipping activities in Bangka Strait. Palembang Port Authority and Harbormaster Office, South Sumatra also tightens shipping permit for trading vessels during bad weather.
Palembang Port Authority and Harbormaster Office’s Sailing Safety, Guard, and Patrol Head, Rahmat Desrial, in Palembang on Thursday (1/22) said due to bad weather, departure schedule restriction is implemented for roll-on/roll-off (roro) vessels from Tanjung Apiapi Port in Banyuasin Regency to Muntok Port, Bangka Belitung Islands. Shipping permit restriction has been implemented for a month.
“Roro vessel is allowed to depart in the morning when weather is calm. The departure in the afternoon is suspended until the next day since weather usually gets worse in the afternoon,” he said.
According to Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), 4 to 6-meter high wave may strikes from January 18th to 21st in Riau Islands’ eastern waters, Jambi waters, northern Bangka Strait, and northern Pangkal Pinang.
Related to BMKG information, KSOP Palembang has issued a circulation letter so all trading vessels are cautious with bad weather. The circulation letter has been issued three times since early January. Bad weather still lasts until the end of February.
Besides bad weather, the ferriage service from South Sumatra to Bangka is also hampered since 4 of 7 roro vessels are out of service. Currently, only three roro vessels serve South Sumatera-Bankga route.
The condition worsens commodity truck queue up to hundreds meters at the road heading to Tanjung Apiapi Ferriage Berth.
Bad weather has also disabled fishermen in South Sumatra from sailing. They only seek crabs until 500 meters from coast line or fishes at river and estuary.
Safe
The vessel crews of KM Numbay, experiencing engine breakdown due to high wave in Jayapura waters on Wednesday (1/21), were safe. All vessel crews have returned to Dock IX Port in North Jayapura District, Jayapura City, on Thursday around 01.30 a.m.
Jayapura SAR Operational Head, Susanto, in Jayapura on Thursday said the 12 vessel crews are fishermen who would go to fish tanks at 10.00 a.m. The location is 16 miles from coast line.
“In the middle of the trip, their vessel was hit by 3-meter wave so the engine was damaged. The vessel was stranded to Papua New Guinea’s waters at 5 p.m. The fishing vessel stayed at sea for 12 hours,” Susanto said.
Susanto also said one of the vessel crews used to contact them to ask for help. However, the deployed SAR team could not rescue KM Numbay vessel crews due to bad weather.
“We could only guide them through communication radio. Finally, those fishermen could repair their vessel and returned safely to Dock IX Port,” he said.
From Ambon, Maluku, it was reported that after losing contact for two days, KM Obi Star, a passenger vessel departing from Slamet Riyadi Port, Ambon on Tuesday (1/20), finally arrived safely at Obi Island, North Maluku yesterday. The vessel had engine breakdown in western Seram Sea.
Ali Ibrahim, Ambon IA Class Port Authority and Harbormaster Office Head, said the 89-GT vessel departed from Ambon carrying 38 passengers, 8 vessel crews, staple foods, and building materials. At that time, the weather was calm.
After three hours of trip, the vessel had engine breakdown. Vessel crews used to contact Ahui, the vessel owner in Obi Island. “Ahui contacted us to report this incident,” Ali said.
The vessel position at the last contact was on western Seram Sea, around 20 nautical miles (37.04 kilometers) from Buano Island, Makebo District, West Seram Regency. The vessel owner, Ali said, directly headed to the location and he could repair the engine. “The trip continued until it arrived on Thursday afternoon,” Ali said.
Missing
Four of five crews of KM Bina Usaha, allegedly drowning around Jedang Island, North Aru District, Aru Islands Regency, Maluku on January 15th, have not been found.
Aru Islands Precinct Police Head, Adj. Comm. Harold Huwae, said the information over vessel sinking was known on Monday. The vessel driven by Tjondro Salim carried nets and four vessel crews namely Jusuf Rumsower, Markus Kaday, Toto, and Akin. Jusuf has been found safely by local fishermen.
Bad weather also urged Kalbut Port Harbormaster, Agus Poedji, to remind fishermen in Madura Strait to be careful during sailing. In this month, at least there are three cases of missing fishermen in Madura Strait and southern Java. (Kompas)
