"The waves and the winds were quite normal, but the rain was torrential."Negara, Bali (News - The Bali Strait was closed by state-owned seaport operator PT. ASDP Indonesia Ferry at 4.30 pm local time on Friday due to heavy rainfall and limited visibility in the region.
"The rain intensity was too high in Ketapang, due to which visibility was very low. The harbourmaster of Ketapang Port, East Java, ordered suspending sea travel in the region," PT. ASDP Indonesia Ferry operations manager Wahyudi Susianto said here on Friday.
He pointed out that reduced visibility could lead to collision of ships.
"The waves and the winds were quite normal, but the rain was torrential. It can be dangerous to travel by sea under such conditions, so we decided to suspend sea travel for a while," Susianto explained.
"Passenger safety is our main priority. If the weather is not good enough for travel, we must close the port until the skies clear up," he added.
(U.A059/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013