ASDP Serves 66,469 Passengers To Sabang During Year-End Holidays

BANDA ACEH - PT Persero ASDP Indonesia Ferry said passengers using the ferry roro from Banda Aceh to Sabang City or vice versa reached 66,469 people during the end of the 2023 holidays or the Christmas and New Year 2024 holiday period.

General Manager of PT Persero ASDP Indonesia Ferry Banda Aceh Branch Rudy B Hanafiah in Banda Aceh, Saturday, said that the passengers of the 2023 Christmas and New Year 2024 holidays are served by two units of Crossing Motor Ships (KMP), namely BRR and Aceh Great 2.

"Alhamdulillah, as long as the transportation for the New Year holiday is smooth, there are no problems, the weather is also good. Although it is quite often rainy, the wind and waves are not as strong as last year," said Rudy, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, January 6.

He explained that the number of passengers was recorded during the Christmas and new waste holidays, from 18 December 2023 to 4 January 2024.

Passengers from Ulee Lheu Port Banda Aceh to Balohan Sabang Port are 33,790 people, 2.5,355 two-wheeled vehicles, 1,888 four-wheeled vehicles, with a total crossing of 70 trips.

Meanwhile, from Balohan Harbor to Ulee Lheu Port, ASDP serves 32,679 passengers, then 5,007 units of two-wheeled vehicles, 1,857 units of four-wheeled vehicles or more, with a total of 70 crossing trips.

The number of ships is still two units, KMP BRR and KMP Aceh Great 2. However, to accommodate this increase in passengers, which we increase in frequency, from a normal day of 3 trips per day, to 4-5 trips per day during Nataru," he said.

He added that the total number of Banda Aceh-Sabang passengers or vice versa served by ASDP Banda Aceh during the Nataru 2023 period also showed an increase compared to the same period last year.

During the Nataru 2022 holiday, ASDP Banda Aceh recorded 24,113 passengers from Ulee Lheu Port to Balohan, 4,853 units of two wheels, and 1,756 units of four wheels or more, with a total crossing of 64 trips.

Meanwhile, there were 24,077 passengers from Balohan Harbor to Ulee Lheu, 4,558 two-wheeled vehicles, and 1,708 units of four or more wheels, with a total crossing of 64 trips.

"Until now, the crossing is still 4 trips per day. I see that (passengers) departing (to Sabang) and those returning (to Banda Aceh) have not balanced, so there are still many in Sabang," he said.

On the other hand, Rudy added, since early 2023, there has been a change in the tariff for the ferry roro for both passengers and vehicles crossing to Sabang and vice versa.

At the previous tariff, he said, every ticket for a crossing vehicle does not include passengers, so you have to buy another ticket. Meanwhile, starting January 5, 2023, on each vehicle ticket, it includes several passengers, according to the vehicle group.

"We need to convey this because currently there are still people who are not years old regarding this adjustment, so we continue to socialize to prospective passengers," he said.

He explained, for tickets for motorbikes and rickshaws, it includes one passenger, while class four vehicles, namely private cars, include five passengers, and class five vehicles such as buses, including 16 passengers.

"For example, a private car accommodates seven passengers, so the car ticket has included five passengers, namely the driver and four passengers. Meanwhile, the remaining two people have to pay for other tickets," he said.