Siltation at Cilincing Harbour Mouth: Fishermen Demand Dredging and Safe Passage Markers

Fishermen at Cilincing Dock in North Jakarta hope for dredging of the harbour mouth and the installation of safe passage markers following siltation that is hindering boat activities.

Bobby (45), one of the fishermen, stated that dredging is necessary to address the increasingly shallow conditions at the harbour mouth.

“Yes, the hope is that it gets dredged again, so that the worry somewhat disappears,” he said when met by Kompas.com near the location on Friday (10/4/2026).

“And where are the boundaries for the deep parts and the shallow ones? At least there should be buoys from the project side,” he added.

He admitted that the current conditions make fishermen feel anxious when preparing to go out to sea.

“If it’s like this, we’re already nervous just to leave. We have to prepare spare propellers,” he explained.

“I want it dredged; if possible, please help,” he told Kompas.com on Friday.

He said the siltation causes boats to easily run aground when passing through. Additionally, the conditions are also leading to damage to boat propellers.

“The propellers often get damaged. The propellers break,” he added.

These conditions are disrupting boat traffic and posing a risk of grounding. Even children can be seen standing on the seabed while swimming in the area.

Kompas.com observations at the site on Friday (10/4/2026) showed several shellfish fishing boats coming and going at the harbour mouth. On the side of the boat channel, several children were seen swimming.

In another part, concrete structures and a construction platform were visible in the middle of the sea. Next to it, there was a long mound of earth extending towards the water.

On top of that mound, reclamation activities were underway with one excavator unit and transport trucks coming and going.