The Tarakan Port Entrance Shipping Route Is Renewable

Tarakan Port (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Sea Transportation will soon update the existence of the Tarakan Port Entrance Flows. This is in order to ensure the safety and security of shipping in the waters of North Kalimantan Province.

"Aquatic conditions such as current depth, or the presence of mud deposition may have changed since the previous determination of the shipping lane. Revision is needed to adjust to the current conditions," said Director of Kenavigasian, Capt. Budi Mantoro quoting Antara.

When opening the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) for the Plan to Change the Entry Flow of Tarakan Port, he said the shipping flow stipulated in the Decree of the Minister of Transportation Number KM. 141 of 2020 concerning the determination of shipping lanes, route systems, traffic procedures and ship anchorage areas in accordance with their interests in the Tarakan Port Entrance Lanes will be reviewed whether it is still adequate or not to accommodate the increasingly crowded ship traffic around Tarakan Port.

He explained that the urgency of evaluation and adjustment of the flow was to prevent disasters such as landslides, sinking, burning, and ran aground. This is supported by changes in water conditions from previous years which should be a concern.

For information, Tarakan Port plays an important role as one of the gateways to the economy in North Kalimantan Province, which is to connect the transportation chain between ports and become a place for loading and unloading activities for passengers and goods.

Tarakan Port is currently still a center for logistical activity and passengers and contributes to local economic growth and is still the prima donna for business actors around Tarakan port, he said.

The development of this port activity is also one of the factors that affects the revision of the determination of the shipping lane.

Tarakan Port from year to year has developed in terms of capacity, facilities, or loading and unloading activities that require adjustment of shipping lanes to be more efficient and smooth, he added.

Therefore, the Director of Kenavigasian underlined that the repair of the Tarakan Port Shipping Path should be carried out so that it can obtain an ideal shipping channel and meet various aspects of interest and smooth navigation, as well as protect the sustainability of the maritime environment.

"Through this FGD, we also encourage synergy and cooperation between agencies and stakeholders to improve service efficiency, maximize resource utilization, and create a greater positive impact on the community," he said.