Transport Expert: Travelling Home by Wooden Boat is Unique, but a "Nightmare" for Safety

JAKARTA – Wooden boats are the mainstay for travellers heading back to their hometowns from Cilincing, North Jakarta, to Muara Gembong, Bekasi Regency, West Java, despite the high safety risks involved. Transport observer Djoko Setijowarno views the trend of travelling home by wooden boat from Cilincing to Muara Gembong as a unique phenomenon. Amid the rapid development of public transport, this traditional mode of transport remains in existence and is favoured by the public. “If examined through the lens of formal transport safety, honestly, this is a ‘nightmare’ for maritime safety standards. Although sociologically, it is a creative solution,” Djoko stated when contacted by Kompas.com on Tuesday (17/3/2026). In addition, the boats often carry motorcycles, thereby increasing the risks for the travellers. Djoko explained several technical aspects related to the safety of using wooden boats for homecoming transport. First, the boats have the potential to experience stability disruptions or shifts in the centre of gravity. “Traditional fishing boats generally have narrow hulls in a V-shape or pointed form to cut through waves, not for carrying heavy static loads on the deck,” Djoko said. Placing motorcycles with an average weight of around 100 kilograms on the deck will also significantly raise the boat’s centre of gravity, making it more unstable. As is known, these wooden boats carry not only passengers but also motorcycles. Second, there is a fire risk due to the fuel from the carried motorcycles. Djoko noted that placing motorcycles on wooden boats is a dangerous combination.