Antara News·Indonesia·Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 05:42 PM

Minister orders strict ship manifest to boost sailing safety

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Harianto, Kenzu

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stressed the importance of accurate passenger and cargo manifest data as the basis for sailing oversight and stronger maritime safety.

“We must ensure the ship is truly seaworthy, the cargo is appropriate, the crew is ready, the weather is safe for sailing, and all safety equipment is functioning before the ship is granted permission to sail,” Purwagandhi said here on Wednesday.

He made the remarks at the 2026 Technical Working Meeting of the Sea and Sailing Oversight Unit (KPLP), held at the Transportation Ministry headquarters.

Purwagandhi instructed all officials under the Directorate General of Sea Transportation to strengthen oversight and ensure that sailing safety systems are properly implemented on the ground.

The directive follows a series of maritime accidents that have occurred in close succession.

“There is no compromise when it comes to safety, because no cargo, schedule, or commercial interest is worth more than human life. Sailing safety must be proven through real conditions on the ground, not merely through complete documents and certificates,” Purwagandhi stressed.

The minister instructed Harbor Master and Port Authority Offices (KSOP) to strictly exercise their authority when issuing Sailing Approval Letters (SPB), including delaying or withholding an SPB when safety requirements have not been met.

“I will stand behind officers who dare to make the right safety decisions, even if those decisions are unpopular,” the minister said.

Data on passengers, crew members, vehicles, and cargo, including hazardous materials, must be recorded in real time and used as the basis for oversight and safety-related decision-making, he added.

Crew members must have adequate rest periods and sufficient staffing and be capable of carrying out emergency procedures, while ship captains must receive full support to make decisions that prioritize safety.

Regarding navigation, ministry officials were instructed to strengthen early warning and monitoring functions through Navigation Districts, Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), coastal radio stations, Sailing Navigation Aids (SBNP), the Automatic Identification System (AIS), and vessel communication systems.

The ministry will also strengthen emergency preparedness by ensuring that patrol vessels, communication equipment, personnel, and coordination mechanisms with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police (Polri), regional governments, and operators are ready to respond quickly.

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