After the dramatic incident with the tourist vessel Putri Sakinah, which sank off the coast of Komodo on December 26, Indonesian authorities are once again concerned about maritime safety.
At that time, high waves caused the vessel's engine to fail, and it capsized. As a result, three people lost their lives, including children. Now, tourist boats, which are plentiful in this region, are not allowed to move after dark. The ban means they can still be at sea, but during nighttime, they must anchor in a safe place. What boats should do in case of a storm is not specified.
Initially, during the rescue operation and bad weather in the area, navigation was completely prohibited, but now night navigation is restricted.
Will this increase safety? Yes, certainly. In the event of another accident, searching for a sinking vessel and rescuing people in the night sea is incredibly challenging.
However, the main threat remains the poor technical condition of many vessels and the inadequate preparedness of crews. For example, in the case of Putri Sakinah, the captain and one of the crew members may be held responsible for the wreck. They are preliminarily accused of negligence resulting in death.
The Indonesian tourist fleet regularly faces tests from bad weather, and unfortunately, not all withstand them. Late last year, due to technical problems and rough seas, a ferry sank operating between Java and Bali. Speedboats traveling to Nusa Penida also periodically encounter issues of varying severity.
Regarding Komodo, a total of 15 incidents with tourist vessels were registered in the region over the past year. When compared to the total number of tourist boats and routes, the figure doesn't seem large, but it still highlights problems with water safety.
Currently, according to regulations, every vessel is required to undergo regular inspections to obtain an operating certificate.
Shipowners and captains must hold valid licenses, ensure equipment functionality, conduct passenger briefings, and comply with authorities' instructions and meteorologists' warnings. How thoroughly are authorities' requirements met and how vigilant are inspectors? We hope recent incidents will compel officials to take their responsibilities very seriously.
While authorities are figuring out how to enforce compliance from shipowners, travelers and tourists can choose reliable companies. These are the ones that have not been involved in any incidents, undergo all inspections on time, and maintain their vessels and crews properly.
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