Makassar (ANTARA) \u2013 Bambang Haryo Suekartono, a member of Commission\nVII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), has called on the\ngovernment, through the Transport Ministry, to put its latest policy\nlimiting the number of ship passengers to public consultation first.<\/p>\n
The Commission VII faction group leader said the issue required\nattention because sea transport remained the main mode of transport for\npeople in many regions, particularly lower-income communities with few\nalternatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not just about the companies; the people are the ones who\nsuffer most. There is not enough space or carrying capacity in sea\ntransport,\u201d he said during a working visit to Soekarno-Hatta Port in\nMakassar on Thursday.<\/p>\n
In October 2026, the Transport Ministry issued a policy limiting\npassenger numbers according to the capacity of a ship\u2019s lifeboats. The\npolicy followed the sinking of the KM Virgo on the Surabaya\u2013Banjarmasin\nroute, in which 80 people died and 55 passengers went missing, out of\n243 people on board.<\/p>\n
Bambang called for every new policy that directly affects the public\nto undergo evaluation and public consultation, with relevant\nstakeholders involved.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia\u2019s maritime safety regulations were fundamentally\naligned with international standards, including the Safety of Life at\nSea (SOLAS) convention and rules set by the International Maritime\nOrganization (IMO).<\/p>\n
He added that maritime safety oversight and ship classification in\nIndonesia involved the government and the Indonesian Classification\nBureau (BKI). The use of lifeboats and other safety equipment, he said,\nshould take account of a vessel\u2019s characteristics and passenger\nevacuation conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cInflatable rafts can be deployed more quickly than lifeboats in an\nemergency, and operating lifeboats is not easy,\u201d he said. He also\nconveyed the point to port authorities, Pelindo and ship crews.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a pity for people who have travelled a long way only to be\nunable to get a ticket because the ship\u2019s capacity is limited,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Makassar Harbourmaster and Port Authority (KSOP) head Jon Kenedi said\nthe newly introduced policy limiting passenger capacity was being\nreviewed following concerns about its impact on sea-transport users.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is being reviewed again. We are always ready to implement the\nlatest rules, as the evaluation will involve many relevant agencies\nhere, not just the KSOP,\u201d Jon said.<\/p>\n
The review follows the introduction of a safety policy governing the\nuse of lifeboats on passenger ships. The policy is considered likely to\nsignificantly reduce vessels\u2019 carrying capacity and affect people who\ndepend on sea transport.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dpr-ri-calls-for-public-consultation-on-ship-passenger-limits-1791481907", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }