Ministry Of Transportation Frees Roro Tarakan Ship Service Threatens To Transport Goods In Kaltara

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) frees the roll-on/roll-off (roro) ship service on the Tarakan route, which threatens the people of North Kalimantan (Kaltara).

This assistance aims to support the smooth distribution of goods, especially agricultural products and basic necessities, ahead of Eid al-Fitr.

Kaltara Governor Zainal A Paliwang said this service was fully financed by the central government through the Ministry of Transportation's budget.

"This is direct assistance from the Ministry of Transportation for North Kalimantan Province. People who want to transport their agricultural products or carry necessities can take advantage of this service free of charge," said Governor Zainal, Friday, March 7.

This free roro service is planned to start operating on March 10, 2025, with a departure from the ferry port in Tarakan to Ancam.

"The roro ship, which functions like a ferry, allows vehicles and goods to go directly to the ship using a thrust system, so that it is more efficient in the loading and unloading process," continued Zainal.

Zainal emphasized that this program is very important for the economy in the region.

"This program really helps the people of Kaltara, especially in areas that rely on sea transportation for the distribution of goods. We hope that in the future there will be more support from the central government to strengthen connectivity and accelerate the development of transportation infrastructure in North Kalimantan," he said.

He appreciated the steps taken by the Ministry of Transportation which has paid attention to transportation connectivity in its area.

"We are very grateful to the Ministry of Transportation for this support. Free roro service assistance will be very useful for the people of Kaltara, especially farmers and small business actors, in reducing the cost of distributing goods. This is also part of the government's efforts to ensure that basic needs ahead of the holiday can be met more smoothly," said the governor.

Through this policy, the Governor hopes to help the people of Kaltara facilitate the distribution of goods and ease the burden of transportation costs.

People who want to try this service, including journalists who want to cover, are welcome to come directly to the Tarakan ferry port.

"With this assistance, it can support connectivity and the regional economy, especially in the face of a surge in needs ahead of Eid al-Fitr," he said.