Minister orders tighter ship manifests and delays for unsafe sailings

Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has ordered harbor masters and port authorities to tighten safety checks before granting ships Sailing Approval Letters (Surat Persetujuan Berlayar, SPB), including delaying or withholding permission to sail when safety requirements are not fully met, according to the Ministry of Transportation and domestic media reports.

In a technical working meeting of the Sea and Sailing Oversight Unit (Kesatuan Penjagaan Laut dan Pantai, KPLP) at the ministry’s headquarters in Jakarta on 15 September 2026, Purwagandhi instructed the Directorate General of Sea Transportation and Harbor Master and Port Authority Offices (Kantor Kesyahbandaran dan Otoritas Pelabuhan, KSOP) to strengthen oversight and ensure that maritime safety systems operate in practice, not just on paper, according to an official ministry release.

The ministry said ships must only be cleared to sail after officials have verified their seaworthiness, cargo suitability, crew readiness, weather conditions and the functioning of all safety equipment. Purwagandhi stressed that safety must be demonstrated through real conditions on board rather than relying solely on certificates and documents, a point echoed in coverage by national media citing the same directives.

Stricter use of SPB and manifest data

According to the ministry, Purwagandhi ordered KSOP offices to exercise their authority more firmly when issuing SPBs, including postponing or refusing to issue sailing approval if any safety prerequisites are not satisfied. He stated that SPBs are not merely administrative documents but decisions directly linked to the safety of passengers and crew.

Local media quoting his remarks report that Purwagandhi pledged to stand behind officers who make safety-based decisions, even if those decisions prove unpopular with operators or passengers. He urged officials to halt departures where dangerous deficiencies are found and to delay sailings when weather conditions are not suitable.

The ministry also highlighted the role of ship manifests as a real-time oversight tool. Purwagandhi called for more accurate and up-to-date records of passengers, crew, vehicles, cargo and hazardous materials, stating that manifest data should reflect actual conditions on board and be used as a basis for safety monitoring and decision-making, rather than serving only as an administrative record.

Operational priorities for port authorities

In its summary of the meeting, the ministry listed operational priorities for sea transportation and oversight units. These include strengthening checks on seaworthiness, cargo and load stability, crew rest and staffing levels, and emergency preparedness before departure.

Officials were instructed to improve risk-based inspections and random checks of manifest data, cargo weight, dangerous goods declarations and safety equipment. The ministry said the Directorate General of Sea Transportation and all technical units must follow up the working meeting by mapping priority risks, determining corrective actions, assigning responsibilities and ensuring implementation in the field.

The ministry further emphasized enhanced navigation monitoring and emergency response readiness, including the use of Navigation Districts, Vessel Traffic Services, coastal radio stations, navigation aids and Automatic Identification System (AIS) monitoring, alongside vessel communications and patrol vessel readiness.

Implications for Labuan Bajo and tourism routes

While the directives were issued nationally in Jakarta, they have direct implications for tourism ports such as Labuan Bajo, where KSOP offices oversee sailing permissions for passenger ferries, liveaboards and excursion vessels. Under the minister’s instructions, local harbor masters are expected to apply stricter scrutiny to passenger lists, cargo declarations and crew readiness before granting SPB for departures.

Operators serving Labuan Bajo and nearby destinations in Komodo National Park may face increased departure delays if manifest data is incomplete, safety equipment is not fully functional, crew rest requirements are not met or weather conditions are judged unsafe at the time of sailing. The ministry’s guidance indicates that previously approved documents or certificates may not be sufficient if current conditions on board do not meet safety standards.

Purwagandhi’s emphasis on accurate, real-time manifest data and verified safety conditions comes amid broader national concern over maritime accidents and discrepancies between recorded and actual passenger numbers in recent incidents. The ministry has linked better manifest verification, integrated ticketing and boarding systems, and strengthened KSOP oversight to efforts to reduce risks on busy passenger and vehicle routes, including those serving tourism and inter-island travel.

Sources

• Kementerian Perhubungan Republik Indonesia – "Kembali dari Banjarmasin, Menhub Dudy Kumpulkan Jajaran Pengawasan Laut dan Pelayaran: Tidak Ada Kompromi untuk Ke
• Liputan6 – "Menhub Minta Manifest Kapal Akurat, Keselamatan Pelayaran Prioritas"