Sailing Ban to Komodo Island for Tourists Extended Amid Bad Weather

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Due to bad weather, the Office of Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP) Class III Labuan Bajo has extended the sailing ban to Komodo Island for tourist boats to March 20, 2024.

Previously, KSOP Class III Labuan Bajo had issued a Notice to Mariners about the sailing ban for six days from March 11-16, 2024.

"It is true," confirmed the Head of KSOP Class III Labuan Bajo Stephanus Risdiyanto, contacted in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Saturday, March 16, 2024.

The sailing ban was issued because there is potential for high waves and strong winds according to weather forecasts by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

During the period of the sailing ban, KSOP Class III Labuan Bajo will not serve Sailing Approval Letters (SPB). KSOP only provides approval for speedboats sailing to Rinca Island within the Komodo National Park Area.

Separately, the Head of Komodo Meteorological Station in West Manggarai, Maria Patricia Christin Seran, said that light to heavy rain still potentially fall over the waters around Labuan Bajo up to March 18.

"Strong winds trigger high waves around these waters," she said.

She explained that the weather with strong winds will gradually improve in on the evening of March 18, 2024, or March 19, 2024.

ANTARA

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