A Step in the Right Direction

(9/28/2009)

In light of the growing number of fatal accidents by Indonesia's maritime operators, the Director General of Sea Communication published display advertisements in a number of Indonesian newspapers prior to the Lebaran holidays reminding Indonesia's shipping community of the following:

1. Asking that all shipping operators and ships' owners to give full authority to Captains in matters related to the safety of ships and equip all vessels with safety equipment in accordance with current rules and regulations.

2. Asking all Captains to only load passengers and cargo in compliance with the limits of their vessels' certification, stability and capacity.

3. Asking all passengers and agents not to "force" ships to depart that have exceeded their capacity or that do not carry sufficient safely equipment.

4. Ordering all port administrators to increase their vigilance in matters of seaworthiness, loading limits, ships' stability and weather conditions before issuing sailing permits. Particular emphasis in reminding Port Administrators to delay sailings when weather conditions did not permit safe sailing.

Indonesia is traditionally plagued by fatal sea accidents during the heightened sea states found in the archipelago in the last quarter of the calendar year.

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