Serving Maluku Waters, Ministry Of Transportation Operates KMP Bahtera Nusantara 02

KMP Bahtera Nusantara 02 (doc. Public Relations Ministry of Transportation)

AMBON - The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) officially operates a ferry / Roll On Roll Off (Ro-Ro) ship that will serve transportation in eastern Indonesia. The ship, named KMP Bahtera Nusantara 02, will serve the community in Ambon, Banda and Tual.

According to the Director General of Land Transportation (Dirjen Hubdat), Budi Setiyadi, said the presence of 1,500 Gross Ton vessels is expected to reduce price disparities in eastern Indonesia. The existence of this ship is also expected to be able to attract local tourists from Ambon to Banda which is increasing from year to year.

"To support the operations of KMP Bahtera Nusantara 02, we will prepare a subsidy of Rp. 2.2 billion for passengers and vehicles, because the hope is that the ship crossing Ambon-Banda-Tual can serve the community, especially to reduce price disparities so that prices for goods from western and eastern Indonesia will the same was received by the public, "said Budi in a statement received by VOI, Wednesday, November 4.

KMP Bahtera Nusantara 02 was built for 22 months and uses the 2018– 2019 State Budget Funds at a cost of IDR 88.4 billion by PT. Dumas Tanjung Perak Shipyard, Surabaya. Overall this Ro-ro type vessel can accommodate a capacity of 400 passengers, 36 vehicles, including large trucks and medium units.

"Our message from the Ministry of Transportation is that the price disparity should not be too far away. From the Directorate General of Hubdat we have helped with Pioneer Transportation, in Ambon there are 16 pioneer ships serving several 3T areas with a subsidy of Rp68 billion for 1 year," said Budi.

Inauguration of KMP Bahtera Nusantara 02 (doc. Public Relations Ministry of Transportation)

Not only that, Budi also conveyed the mandate of the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, regarding the construction of road infrastructure to support the sea highway program, including the goods transportation subsidy program. Especially in eastern Indonesia, where 60 percent of transportation crosses Maluku waters.

"This KMP will support the sea highway to reduce price disparities so that people in places far from the center of economic activity can receive goods at the same price in other places," he added.

On the same occasion, Maluku Governor Murad Ismail expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the operation of the KMP Bahtera Nusantara to support marine transportation in Maluku.

"This is to make our people connected to other islands through ships and sea tolls," he said.