The Indonesian Transportation Ministry’s Directorate General of Sea Transportation has asked all ships to maintain a safe distance of at least three kilometers from the active crater of Mount Anak Krakatau.
“Ships are barred from entering within three kilometers of Mount Anak Krakatau’s active crater during the Level III, or Alert status,” said head of the Harbor Master and Port Authority Office (KSOP) Class I Banten. Raden Yogie Nugraha in a statement here on Sunday.
The prohibition was imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain shipping safety around the Sunda Strait waters while Mount Anak Krakatau’s volcanic activity continues.
In addition, all ships passing through the Sunda Strait waters are urged to increase vigilance against possible volcanic activity from Mount Anak Krakatau, including eruptions, ejected volcanic material, volcanic ash, and potential disruptions to navigation safety.
“Ship captains are asked to continuously monitor official updates on Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity issued by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), and related government agencies,” he said.
Captains are also asked to plan their voyages while taking into account weather conditions, the direction of volcanic ash dispersal, and shipping safety information issued by relevant authorities.
If any indication of danger that could disrupt shipping safety is found, captains are asked to immediately take the necessary avoidance measures and report it to the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), coastal radio station, the nearest harbormaster, or related agencies.
He added that ferry services on the Merak-Bakauheni route and vice versa are currently still operating normally, while continuing to prioritise vigilance and shipping safety.
“Meanwhile, shipping is restricted within a three-kilometer radius of the active crater while the Level III, or Alert, status remains in effect,” he stressed.
