Implementing Buffer Zones Around Nusa Penida Island in the Lombok Strait to Enhance Maritime Safety & Environmental Protection

Abstract

Lombok Strait connects Indian Ocean with Bali Sea and Makassar Strait as an adjoining of archipelagic sea lanes and becoming one of the chokepoints in the maritime supply chain. As one of the most important alternative routes for seaborne trades, the trade volume by weight and by value in the Lombok and Makassar Strait will increase if the flow through the Malacca Strait or Sunda Strait in closure. Lombok Strait also one of the major routes in Asia-Pacific region beside Alas Strait, connecting Australia to Asia. As an example, 82% of iron ore exported to China came from Australia and most of the port located in the western part of Australia where Port Hedland as the major port for exporting natural resources such as Iron Ore to the world, exported 474 million iron ore in 2,716 ships to China in 2023 alone. Nusa Penida Island is one of the areas within Coral Triangle in the Lombok Strait area that is expected to be designated as Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA) by Indonesian Government. Through this study, we examine the relation of the marine traffic in the vicinity since the area is prone to adverse impacts emerging from an increase volume of shipping as of 2023, there were 15,099 passing ships and 21,547 crossing ships in the Lombok Strait area through the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). This study used AIS data and spatial approach according to PIANC, CESMA and IMO Ship Manoeuvring Standard mimicking turning circle of the model ship according to actual manoeuvring table obtained to determine “buffer zone” that consist of safety zone, reservation area, safety margin and manoeuvring margin. In terms of safe distances and vulnerable area related to nearest shore was observed 2.3km with the closest distance to the to the core zone was 1,2km. This study makes a valuable contribution to the subject of maritime traffic management by providing a realistic method to enhancing safety and environmental protection in accord with IMO Resolution A.982(24). The findings offer useful perspectives for maritime authorities and policymakers in developing and executing safe TSS, guaranteeing the most effective management of high-traffic maritime routes.