Bad Weather, Ship Travel In Ambon Temporarily Stopped

A passenger carrier docked at Yos Sudarso Port, Ambon City (ANTARA)

AMBON - Pelni Ambon Branch appealed to people in the area not to travel via ships for a while due to bad weather that caused high waves in several Maluku waters.

"We prioritize shipping safety in services to the community if forced to go to sea in large wave heights, it will be too risky for passenger safety," said Head of Operations of PT Pelni Ambon Branch Muhammad Assegaf, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, July 24.

His party ensured that a number of ships in Maluku waters had to delay their departure schedule again due to bad weather in the province in recent weeks.

"Both fast boats, ferries and Pelni ships bound for Buru, South Buru and Southwest Maluku are delaying departure," he said.

Currently, he said, at Yos Sudarso Port Ambon is leaning on KM Pangrango and Belt Nusantara 87. They are still waiting for normal weather to be able to sail again.

"Yes, these two ships were supposed to depart today but there was a 'warning' (warning) from the Ambon Harbormaster Office and Port Authority (KSOP)," he said.

Separately, one of the Riyadi Ambon Slamet Port officers, Dian, revealed that currently at the local port there are Cantika 8F, 5E, and 77B ships whose departures have also been postponed.

"The waves in the Buru Sea and Southwest Maluku are still too high and at risk of shipping," he said.

Assistant harbormaster of the Galala Ferry Port, Ambon, Rifai Ibrahim, revealed that the Ambon-Namlea route ferry was also not dispatched until further notice.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued an early warning of rain with moderate to heavy intensity accompanied by lightning or lightning and strong winds for a moment in several areas of Maluku.

The Maluku Land Transportation Management Center (BPTD) stated that a number of inter-island voyages in the area were again postponed due to extreme weather.

Crossings that do not operate due to bad weather are the Ambon Galala Crossing Port, Namlea Crossing Port, and Tual Crossing Port.

"This shipping suspension is valid until July 25, 2023. So it can be ascertained that the three trajectories are not operational," said Public Relations and Publication Data Processer of BPTD Maluku Mohammad Fausan Salatalohy.

He said the ship would be dispatched if the latest information from the BMKG came out that the wave conditions had returned moderately or low.

"We are only following the warning from the BMKG. Because this is also for mutual safety. So it is hoped that the community will also be patient and wait until the weather improves," he said.