A diver swims near a coral reef in the waters of the Seribu Islands off Jakarta, on March 26, 2025. (ANTARA)
Indonesia is tightening oversight of cruise ship traffic in its waters to safeguard coral reef ecosystems from potential damage caused by maritime accidents, according to an Environment Ministry official on January 31. All shipping companies, including cruise operators, are required to carry insurance covering environmental harm, with the polluter pays principle applied to ensure responsible parties fund restoration efforts.
The ministry said no coral reef damage linked to cruise ships has been reported in Bali, a key global cruise tourism destination, but supervision is being reinforced as a preventive measure. Authorities are also coordinating with relevant ministries to strengthen monitoring, drawing lessons from past incidents elsewhere in Indonesia where insurance-funded compensation and reef restoration were carried out.
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