Maritime Safety
Strengthening the safety and preparedness of fishers, tourism operators, and coastal communities through training, weather information, emergency communication, and safety procedures at sea.
Maritime Safety is an important program of Fifan Foundation that supports the improvement of safety for communities and people working in marine areas, including fishers, tourism operators, field officers, conservation teams, and coastal communities.
This program focuses on safety information, emergency procedures, risk awareness, communication systems, and capacity building to help communities respond more effectively to hazards at sea. These hazards may include extreme weather, high waves, navigation risks, accidents, and emergency situations during fishing, tourism, or conservation activities.
The Banyak Islands are located in the Indian Ocean on the western side of Aceh and are frequently exposed to weather anomalies and sudden changes in sea conditions. Therefore, strengthening maritime safety is essential to reduce risks and improve preparedness for communities who depend on the sea for their daily activities.
Standard Operational Procedures
In February 2024, Fifan Foundation conducted maritime safety training for tourism operators and fishers in the Banyak Islands. The training was held for three days on Pinang Island and Tailana Island.
The development of Standard Operational Procedures became an important part of this activity to improve safety during marine operations. The training aimed to help fishers and tourism operators adapt to extreme weather conditions and reduce risks while carrying out activities at sea.
Participants were introduced to the use of safety equipment and emergency communication tools, including locator beacons and Garmin inReach devices. These tools are important for supporting emergency response, especially in remote island areas where communication access may be limited.
Through this activity, Fifan Foundation supports safer marine practices and strengthens the preparedness of local communities, tourism actors, and fishers in facing weather-related risks at sea.
Forecast System
The Forecast System supports the prediction and communication of weather conditions, wave height, tides, currents, and other potential risks in marine and coastal areas.
This information helps communities, fishers, tourism operators, and field teams make safer decisions before conducting activities at sea. A reliable forecast system can reduce risks, improve preparedness, and support safer marine operations.
In June 2024, Fifan Foundation , together with fishers and tourism operators, conducted outreach activities on the use of weather forecast applications and Garmin inReach technology.
Several weather forecast applications were introduced to help communities check potential weather conditions before going to sea. The Garmin inReach device was also introduced as an important safety technology for remote marine areas.
This technology is highly relevant for the Banyak Islands, where extreme weather changes can increase risks for fishers and tourism operators. Garmin inReach can help users send location information and text messages during emergency situations, including when extreme weather occurs and regular communication networks are unavailable.
Communication
Communication is a key element of an effective maritime safety and early warning system. This program strengthens information flow between communities, field teams, government agencies, fishers, tourism operators, and other relevant stakeholders.
Clear and timely communication helps emergency information be delivered more quickly and accurately. It also improves coordination, reduces risk, and supports faster response during critical situations at sea.
To strengthen maritime communication, Fifan Foundation supported the development of a VHF repeater system in collaboration with Balai Monitor Spektrum Frekuensi Radio Kelas II Banda Aceh.
The licensing and development process for the Radio Station License, or Izin Stasiun Radio, began in June 2024. This license allows Fifan Foundation to operate on an authorized radio frequency for maritime safety communication.
The VHF repeater supports communication for small-scale fishers and tourism operators, especially in areas where mobile network coverage remains limited or unavailable. In addition, this communication system also supports law enforcement patrols, including efforts to prevent destructive fishing practices.
Because several areas in the Banyak Islands still experience communication blackspots, this initiative is also coordinated with the Aceh Singkil Transportation Agency to strengthen maritime safety communication across the region.
Our Commitment
Fifan Foundation is committed to strengthening maritime safety in coastal and island communities through training, safety procedures, forecast systems, emergency communication, and cross-sector collaboration.
We believe that safe marine activities are essential for protecting lives, supporting sustainable tourism, strengthening fisheries livelihoods, and improving conservation work in remote island areas.
Through maritime safety training, the use of modern communication tools, weather forecast awareness, and VHF radio network development, Fifan Foundation continues to support safer, more prepared, and more resilient coastal communities in the Banyak Islands.