High Wave Reaches 4 Meters, BMKG Asks Bali-Lombok Strait Ferry Passengers To Be Alert

Illustration of ferries carrying passengers. (Between-Irwansyah Putra)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) appealed to communities and fishermen on the coast as well as ferry users to be aware of the potential for high waves in several water areas on April 18-19 2023.

"We ask people who live and work on the coast around areas where high waves are likely to occur so that they remain vigilant," said Head of the Center for Maritime Meteorology, BMKG, Eko Prasetyo in Jakarta, Tuesday, April 18, as reported by Antara.

Eko revealed that the wind pattern is one of the causes of opportunities for high wave increase.

He conveyed that the wind pattern in the northern part of Indonesia is dominantly moving from north-east with wind speeds ranging from 3-15 knots, while in the southern part of Indonesia it is dominantly moving from east-east with wind speeds ranging from 5-20 knots.

"The highest wind speed was observed in the waters of Bangka Belitung, the Java Sea, the southern waters of Java, and the waters of P. Rote," he said.

This condition causes an opportunity to increase waves as high as 1.25-2.5 meters in the eastern waters of P. Simeulue-Kep. Mentawai, southern Lampung Bay, southern Sape Strait, NTT waters, Savu Sea, Ombai Strait, southern Flores waters and northern Jayapura waters.

For waves in the higher range of 2.5-4 meters, it is likely to occur in northern Sabang waters, western Sumatra waters, West Indian Ocean Sumatra, western and southern Sunda Strait, southern Java-NTB waters, Bali Strait, Lombok, southern Alas, western Sumba Strait, East Java-NTB Indian Ocean.

For this reason, Eko said it is necessary to pay attention to the high risk to the safety of fishing boats (wind speeds of more than 15 knots and wave heights above 1.25 m), barges (wind speeds of more than 16 knots and wave heights above 1.5 m).

Then, ferries (wind speeds of more than 21 knots and wave heights above 2.5 m), large ships such as cargo ships/cruise ships (wind speeds of more than 27 knots and wave heights above 4 meters).