"Indonesia is an archipelagic country and has many ports and docks that serve ferry transportation. Water constitutes nearly 65 percent of Indonesia's territory, so marine weather information is very crucial in ensuring transportation safety at crossing points," BMKG Head Dwikorita Karnawati noted in a written statement here on Thursday.
Karnawati pointed out that weather conditions significantly affected the smoothness and safety of sea crossing transportation. The likelihood of rains, storms, winds, and high waves is high during the trip, she pointed out.
Moreover, the agency head noted that currently, Indonesia and other countries in the world were experiencing climate change that triggers shifts in seasonal patterns and air temperatures, which also led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological disasters.
“Weather changes, influenced by many factors, are very fast and erratic. Hence, we are also constantly working to improve speed and accuracy in weather forecasting. Hence, in 2018 and 2019, the BMKG installed the HF Radar that functions to detect the speed and direction of currents as well as wave heights and tsunamis in real time in the Bali Strait and Sunda Strait," she stated.
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The BMKG head said her side continues to study various problems faced by ferry service providers and stakeholders to improve ferry transportation safety. The BMKG is keen that the weather and climate information issued is not only understood but also followed, according to Karnawati.
Meanwhile, in his directive, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi noted that synergy between the Ministry of Transportation and BMKG was paramount to maintaining transportation safety. He noted that weather information and its various supporting instruments were found to be capable of maintaining safety, especially in the ferry transportation sector.
On the occasion, the minister requested the BMKG to install and add equipment for maritime weather observation at the ferry port, especially the crowded crossing lanes (AWS and HF Radar). He also urged the BMKG to integrate weather data with other services, such as electronic navigational charts.
"I am optimistic that the BMKG would assign its personnel at busy ports to accelerate the flow of information, disseminate info on weather and climate to crossing port stakeholders, and offer training to ferry port PICs to read weather parameter data," he noted.
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Translator: Indra Setiawan, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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