TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Transportation Ministry has officially stopped the operations of all wooden boats in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, temporarily in light of Monday's capsizing of Sinar Bangun motor vessel.
The halt was issued for inspection of all boats. “Forty wooden boat operators in Lake Toba agree to enhance security aspects,” said the ministry’s Land Transportation director Budi Setyadi during a press conference at the ministry building today.
Meanwhile, the ministry planned to provide two boats for rescue purposes. “We will add some 5,000 life jackets,” he added.
As reported earlier, Sinar Bangun motor vessel carrying hundreds of passengers capsized while en route to Tiga Ras port, Simalungun from Simanindo port, Samosir, at around 17:15 Indonesian Western Time on Monday.
Read: Rescue Team Finds Coordinate of the Capsized Boat in Lake Toba
The cause of the incident was allegedly due to overload and negligence of a warning on extreme weather from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, meanwhile, said the standard of boat safety was already adequate, including three conditions viz. passenger manifest, life jacket usage, and sailing permit (SIB). He added all boats were also required to undergo annual ramp checking.
Read: Jasa Raharja to Compensate Victims of Boat Sinking in Lake Toba
“So we must indeed review the implementation of the rules,” he said, adding that during the total audit the ministry would review which rule was lacking implementation.
FAJAR PEBRIANTO
