KSOP Labuan Bajo Sanctions Captain for Sailing During Bad Weather Ban
The Labuan Bajo Port Authority (KSOP) in West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, has imposed sanctions on the captain of the Grand Maoloekoe vessel, identified by the initials DD, for continuing to sail despite a sailing ban issued due to bad weather.
Head of KSOP Labuan Bajo Stephanus Risdiyanto said on Tuesday that DD had been examined since Monday (10/8) and was sanctioned by being removed from the vessel and having his licence suspended for three weeks.
“The person concerned has been sanctioned and removed from his vessel,” he said.
Stephanus said DD still accepted and took tourists sailing towards Komodo National Park even though KSOP had issued a sailing ban to anticipate safety risks due to bad weather conditions and high waves.
The tourists carried by the vessel were a group accompanying celebrity Jessica Milla, who was visiting Padar Island in Komodo National Park while the sailing ban was in force.
“The vessel’s licence has also been suspended as a result of his actions,” he said.
He stressed that the sailing ban was issued as a preventive measure to ensure that incidents of tourist boats sinking and causing fatalities do not recur in the tourist area.
In addition to the captain of the Grand Maoloekoe, KSOP Labuan Bajo will also impose sanctions on other captains proven to have violated shipping regulations and endangered tourist safety.
According to Stephanus, several captains reported for violating the rules have not yet been examined because they are still at sea. However, KSOP has assured that all reports will be followed up through examination.
Previously, a video of Jessica Milla and her group visiting Padar Island in Komodo National Park went viral on social media and drew responses from netizens and tourism business operators.
Several tourism business operators questioned the sailing activity because they had chosen not to sail after complying with the ban issued by KSOP Labuan Bajo due to bad weather conditions.