TEMPO.CO, Batam-Domestic and international shipping to and from Batam, Riau Islands have been unavailable since Tuesday, September 29. The industry is practically paralyzed and cannot operate due to the low visibility of just under 500 meters caused by the forest fires.
"This is an order from the head office. All ships are forbidden from sailing because the visibility level is very bad," said Erwin Sjafrizal, harbormaster at the Telaga Punggur Port.
According to Erwin, the head office has instructed to delay all sailing activities util the haze thinned.
"The sailing ban is also applied to cruises to Singapore and Malaysia, postponed until visibility improves," he said.
Right now, he said, visibility level in Batam waters is only about 200 meters, far below the safe limit of 1.5 nautical miles.
Dense smoke began to envelop Batam on Monday afternoon, September 28.
On Tuesday morning, the Hang Nadim International Airport had to stop operating for several hours; all flights to Batam were diverted to Medan, North Sumatra.
ANTARA | RR
