Bad Weather, Ulee Lheu Port Authority Stops Banda Aceh-Sabang Crossing And Vice Versa

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ulee Lheu Port Authority of Banda Aceh City said that the operation of fast boats serving the Banda Aceh-Sabang crossing or vice versa was canceled this Sunday due to bad weather hitting the Aceh region.

Ulee Port Coordinator Lheu Ismayadi through the Administrative Person in Charge Maulizan said the information had been conveyed to the public and all prospective fast boat passengers who were about to depart at the port. "We have announced the fast boat, we will 'off' it today starting from the departure schedule at 10.00 WIB to 16.00 WIB, due to bad weather," said Maulizan, quoted by Antara, Sunday, May 29.

Maulizan asked for understanding from all prospective passengers regarding the policy taken to stop crossing using fast boats, taking into account the bad weather in the middle of the sea.

As for slow boats or ferries, he said, his party and ASDP have also decided that the last departure for the Banda Aceh-Sabang route and vice versa today is scheduled at 13.00 WIB. This policy was also taken by considering the potential for unpredictable weather in the middle of the sea.

It has also announced to the public about the latest departure schedule. Currently, passengers are still waiting at the port, although it is not too crowded. "Even if the weather is favorable, 13.00 WIB will be the last trip today. We will also monitor the weather conditions when we leave," he said.

If the weather is bad, he continued, it is very likely that the ferry will also not serve the crossing again today, taking into account mutual safety. As is known, bad weather has hit the Aceh region since Saturday, May 28 until today.

According to Maulizan, currently the conditions of rainfall and strong winds at Ulee Lheu Port have subsided a little. However, the weather conditions in the middle of the sea are uncertain.

Slow boats and fast boats had served the Banda Aceh-Sabang crossing and vice versa on the first schedule this morning. However, weather conditions continued to worsen, causing the port and ASDP to stop shipping. "Earlier at around 09.00 WIB the wind speed at sea reached 60 knots," he said.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) asked the public to be aware of high waves of 2.5-4 meters in the western waters of Aceh to the Mentawai Islands, the waters of Enggano Island, the southern waters of Java and the southern Indian Ocean of Java.

In addition, the BMKG also predicts heavy rain that can be accompanied by lightning and strong winds has the potential to hit a number of provinces in Indonesia on Sunday.

The shipping sector and people who live and work on the coast around areas that are prone to high waves are advised to always be vigilant. The high wave warning is in effect from Sunday at 07.00 WIB until Monday 30 May at 07.00 WIB.