Supporting Increased Efficiency Of Logistics Transportation, ASDP Strengthens Long Distance Ferry

JAKARTA - PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) through its subsidiary PT Jembatan Nusantara continues to strengthen the long-distance ferry (LDF) to support the government's program to increase the efficiency of logistics transportation.

Corporate Secretary of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) Shelvy Arifin said the cross LDF service was an effort to support the government's program to increase the efficiency of logistics transportation.

"The presence of the LDF service will reduce congestion and road loads due to the large volume of vehicles as well as the dimensions and volume of vehicle loads. Thus, we will also reduce the level of air pollution from road transport exhaust emissions," Shelvy said in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Monday 16 January.

Shelvy said Indonesia's logistics costs in 2018 were recorded at 23.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

However, thanks to the efforts made by the government through the development of connectivity infrastructure, Indonesia's current logistics costs have fallen to 22 percent of GDP.

Going forward, the government has targeted reducing logistics costs to 17 percent of GDP by 2024.

Besides that, according to her, the LDF cross-service will also encourage the growth of other sectors such as industry and trade, so that it will have a positive chain impact, especially at the two crossing points, as well as nationally.

Currently, ASDP through its subsidiary, PT Jembatan Nusantara, operates two LDF routes. First, the Balikpapan-Pare Pare crossing, which is served by the Madani Nusantara Motor Ship (KM). This trail is 252 miles and takes 23 hours.

Second, Surabaya-Labuan Bajo cross by using KM Swarna Bahtera. The distance traveled along the 462 miles with time for 38 hours.

"In the near future, the Nusantara Bridge will also operate the Surabaya-Ende line using the KM Mahkota Nusantara. The Surabaya-Ende route with a distance of 575 miles is covered in 58 hours," said Shelvy. For information, ASDP officially acquired PT Jembatan Nusantara on 22 February 2022.

This acquisition is part of the company's long-term plan to ensure the company remains healthy and can continue to serve across pioneers. Currently, the total number of tracks is 311, of which 70 percent are pioneer tracks.

Previously, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir conveyed his mandate after acquiring PT Jembatan Nusantara (JN) that this acquisition step would make ASDP the largest ferry operator in Indonesia and even in the world.

Through this acquisition, ASDP obtained an additional 53 fleet units and operated 6 Long Distance Ferry (LDF) lines.