Homecoming By Sea Is Predicted To Reach 1.4 Million People, Minister Of Transportation Asks Shipping Operators To Prevent Overloading

Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi asked operators of sea transportation facilities and infrastructure to anticipate areas with high passenger levels during the 2022 Lebaran homecoming period. This is to prevent overloading of ships that can endanger safety.

Based on the survey results of the Transportation Research and Development Agency (Balitbanghub), it is predicted that the number of homecomers who will use sea transportation during the Lebaran period in 2022 will reach 1.4 million people. This prediction figure is much higher than the number of passengers during the Eid transportation period 2020-2021 ago.

"It has been identified an area experiencing an increase in passengers. PT Pelni said there was one area that was 100 percent occupied. For that I asked for re-routing of ships in crowded areas, so that it is hoped that there will be no overloading," he said, quoted on Monday. , April 11th.

Budi detailed a number of areas that are prone to overloading, including Madura, East Java; South Sulawesi; Selayar; Samarinda; Banjarmasin; Base Bun; and Batam.

To ensure that the safety aspects of shipping are met, Budi expressly asks for a pick test or inspection of the airworthiness of ships operating during the homecoming period. Including, conducting health checks on the crew.

Meanwhile, said Budi, to reduce the high number of homecomers who will use motorbikes, a free homecoming program will be prepared via ships.

"People pay for boat tickets, the motorbike can be transported for free, with the aim of going to Semarang and Surabaya," he explained.

Budi also appreciated the collaboration plan between the Indonesian National Shipowners Association (INSA) and the Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association (ALFI), which supports the provision of ships to support logistics distribution by sea, following the policy of restricting logistics transportation by land during the Lebaran homecoming period. 2022.

"To anticipate the surge in passengers, a fleet of 1,186 ships has been prepared from PT Pelni, pioneering fleets, and private fleets, which in total are capable of carrying as many as 2.4 million passengers," he said.