Emergency Situation at Jakarta Harbor After Thousands of Boats Pile Up

On 30 January, the situation in Pluit, North Jakarta, is a serious crisis because over 2,500 fishing boats were stuck in the port of Muara Angke . Only about 1,000 boats could be accommodated in the harbor, but it is currently operating at approximately 250 percent. This excessive congestion has led to the near termination of the day-to-day fishing activities. Local governments started an emergency cleanup to address the increasing problem.

Video footage is available online that shows boats crammed together across the harbor with very little room available to move. Arguers are able to observe fishermen as they walk cautiously amidst boats as they sort fish along narrow areas. The image appears as a massive traffic jam on water; boats are in long queues and cannot move. According to many fishermen, this situation has taken days to happen, and it has damaged their capacity to make a living.

A Port Driven to Excess

Major operational issues have been experienced due to the overcrowding. Most of the lanes within the harbor are blocked, and also some old or abandoned boats are occupying valuable space. Consequently, working ships are not able to refuel and get ready to leave. According to one fisherman, they have no way to get back to the sea unless there are distinct paths. “Not being able to sail,” he said, “we cannot take fish or make money.”

The situation was not helped by bad weather in the recent days. The high winds and waves up to 2.5 meters caused hundreds of boats to queue into the harbor simultaneously. According to sources, this bursting appearance caused an already congested port to become gridlocked. When the conditions were improved, the crews were left with no option other than to remain indoors.

Emergency Measures Begin

The effect does not affect fishing boats only. Services to Thousand Islands by fast boats have also been affected. This has impacted daily commuters and also the tourists who use these boats to transport themselves. Many passengers have been frustrated by delays and cancellations.

In response, the Jakarta Provincial Government and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs launched an emergency cleanup. Teams are clearing up the dumped vessels and attempting to clear one transit lane so critical movements can be reinstated. Authorities have also set a temporary stop on new docking permits in order to prevent the situation from worsening.

Why the Problem Grew So Large

According to authorities, the crisis is associated with the excessive granting of permits over the years, which is way beyond the capacity of the harbor. Delays in administration also made boats remain in docks longer than intended. A combination of these problems gradually led Muara Angke Harbour to its present condition, with thousands of vessels being stuck inside it, awaiting an exit.

Watch the video here: