Transportation Ministry Anticipates Hydrometeorological Disasters on Air, Sea Transports

Cabinet Secretary joins a Limited Meeting through video conference on the Anticipative Measures against Hydrometeorological Disasters, Tuesday (13/10). (Photo: PR/Rahmat)

Ministry of Transportation takes some measures to anticipate the impact of La Nina phenomenon, including an increase in rainfall intensity, to air and sea transports.

The measures are taken to following up the Government’s Limited Meeting held on Tuesday (13/10) concerning the Anticipative Measures against Hydrometeorological Disasters.

Regarding air transport, the Ministry has issued Circular Number 47 of 2020 on aviation operation on limited visibility due to worse weather conditions (Weather Minimums). The Circular was issued to aviation operators, airports, air navigation, and aviation meteorological information service providers.

“The Ministry has also mapped and took anticipative measures to 15 airports in tsunami-prone locations, such as; Binaka Gunung Sitoli, Minangkabau, Ngurah Rai, Balikpapan, Mamuju, Luwuk, Ende, Maumere, Melongguane, Ternate, Weda, Buli, Ambon, Manokwari, and Biak Airports,” Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi stated in a press release on Tuesday (13/10).

Regarding sea transport, the Minister has instructed Directorate General for Sea Transportation’s Sea and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP), Directorate of Navigation, Navigation District Office, Harbormaster’s Office and Port Authority throughout Indonesia to take anticipative measures.

“We ordered all transportation facilities operators and related stakeholders to take anticipative measures and emergency response management,” he said.

The measures cover the issuance of shipping announcement during worse weather and high waves, optimization of quick response team for emergency response preparedness, optimization of shipping navigation and telecommunication supporting facilities through Vessel Traffic System (VTS), coordination with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and preparing patrol vessels.

The Ministry has also performed integration of sensor warning receiver system new generation installed on all VTS in seaports located in tsunami-prone areas, such as in Bakauheni, Bali, Ambon, Teluk Bayur, and in Marine Command Center (MCC) located in the Ministry’s Headquarters in Jakarta. (Ministry of Transportation/EN)

Translated by: Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana B.