Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Puan Maharani is\npushing for strengthened security and safety in maritime transport\nfollowing a series of ship accidents in the first half of 2026. Puan\nstressed that the success of national maritime transport should be\nmeasured by the level of public safety and security, not merely by the\nsmooth flow of logistics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is homework for all of us \u2014 the number of sea vessel accidents\nsince the start of the year shows there are still serious problems in\nIndonesia\u2019s maritime transport sector,\u201d Puan said in an official\nstatement in Jakarta on Tuesday (4 August 2026).<\/p>\n
Puan specifically highlighted the fire aboard KM Mutiara Sentosa II\nin the waters off Sumenep, Madura, East Java, on 2 August 2026. The\ntragedy killed five passengers, while search and rescue teams are still\nlooking for victims reported missing.<\/p>\n
She also recalled the sinking of the motor sailing vessel (KLM) Nurul\nSalsa in Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi, on 15 July 2026. In\nthat incident, 58 passengers were found alive, four people died, and 14\nothers remain missing.<\/p>\n
Puan expressed her deep condolences to all the victims and underlined\nthe manifest discrepancy issue suspected to be the main trigger of both\nincidents. She urged a thorough evaluation of the gap between the actual\nnumber of passengers and the ships\u2019 manifest data.<\/p>\n
According to Puan, maritime safety is a national agenda linked to the\nprotection of people\u2019s basic rights. This is crucial given that\nIndonesia\u2019s archipelagic territory depends heavily on maritime transport\nto access healthcare, education and economic activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cSafety must be a performance measure on par with connectivity. The\ngovernment needs to make passenger safety the main indicator in\nevaluating maritime transport,\u201d she asserted.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the House Speaker asked the government to set a national\ntarget for reducing maritime transport accidents, accompanied by regular\nevaluations. This step is expected to create measurable accountability\nfor ministries, agencies, operators and regulators alike.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs an archipelagic nation, Indonesia must be able to deliver a\ntransport system that not only connects the islands, but also guarantees\nthat every journey meets safety standards that give all our people a\nsense of security,\u201d Puan concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-speaker-puan-maharani-urges-strengthening-of-maritime-transport-safety-1785840668", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }