Bad Weather, DKI Jakarta's Dishub Stops Fast Boats to Thousand Islands Again

The fast boat belonging to the DKI Jakarta Transportation Service that serves the crossing to the Thousand Islands is parked at the Muara Angke Port, North Jakarta, some time ago. ANTARA/Mario Sofia Nasution.

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Transportation Office has temporarily stopped the fast boat service crossing from Muara Angke Port, North Jakarta, to a number of islands in the Thousand Islands on Wednesday, January 14, due to bad weather.

Head of the Water Transportation Management Unit of the DKI Jakarta Regional Government, Muhamad Wildan Anwar, said that as of Wednesday morning, the weather conditions had not allowed for sailing.

"The crossing service is still not running today," said Wildan in Jakarta, Wednesday, January 14.

According to him, the DKI Jakarta Office of Transportation and Port Authority (KSOP) has not yet obtained a sailing permit from the Muara Angke Port because of safety considerations.

"The authority for shipping is in the KSOP, Dishub is only an operator," said Wildan.

Previously, the DKI Jakarta Office of Transportation had temporarily stopped the operation of fast boats from Muara Angke Port to a number of islands in the Thousand Islands Regency since Monday, January 12. This policy was taken following the bad weather marked by high rainfall and sea waves that could potentially endanger the safety of navigation.

Wildan said the decision was based on weather data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the issuance of a sailing permit by KSOP Muara Angke.

"Passenger safety is the top priority," he said.

The four fast boat lanes of the DKI Jakarta Dishub that are temporarily not operating include the Muara Angke-Pulau Untung Java-Pulau Lancang-Pulau Payung-Pulau Tidung, the Muara Angke-Pulau Untung Java-Pulau Pari-Pulau Panggang-Pulau Pramuka, the Muara Angke-Pulau Pari-Pulau Pramuka-Pulau Kelapa, and the Muara Angke-Pulau Kelapa-Pulau Sabira.

DKI Jakarta's Dishub continues to coordinate with KSOP Muara Angke to monitor weather developments and shipping safety.

"Ship operations will be reopened after the sailing permit is issued and the weather conditions are declared safe," concluded Wildan.