Wednesday, February 13, 2008

WEATHER

Ferries continue to operate despite BMG weather warning
Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Despite a Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) weather warning regarding the Sunda Strait, it was business as usual at Merak Port in Banten on Monday.

All ferries transporting passengers between Java and Sumatra were operational Monday, with the exception of smaller speed boats.

"We warned ferry operators of large waves at the port," said BMG official Edi Kelana.
BMG data indicates the height of waves increased from between one and 1.5 meters last week to between two and three meters Monday.

Edi said strong winds caused by tropical storm Hondo resulted in the higher waves.
"Bad weather and high waves will continue until at least next week," Edi said.

BMG weather analyst Abdul Muthalib said his office was not able to force transportation operators and fishermen to stay ashore.

"We can only deliver warnings about bad weather. Their decision on whether to sail or not is out of our hands," he said.

Endin Juhaendi, the operations manager of PT ASDP, which manages transportation at Merak Port, said his company would abide by the weather warning.

"We will not force speed boats and ferries to operate for the safety of passengers and we will continuously monitor BMG weather reports," he said.

However, Merak Port administrator Dalle Effendy said he was yet to receive advice regarding the operation of ferries from the BMG.

"We have not officially received a weather warning from the BMG and therefore ferries are still operating as usual and we have only halted the operation of speed boats for the time being," he said.

Meanwhile, high tides in Malimping, Banten, have kept fishermen out of work for several weeks.
Hundreds of fishermen living near the Talanca, Bagedur, Binuangeun and Malimping beaches said they had been unable to go fishing for two weeks.

"I have no idea how I am going to feed my wife and six children," fisherman Masna'im said.

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