Free Homecoming Enthusiast Increases, Ministry Of Transportation Departs 1,939 Homecomers Riding KM Dobonsolo Ships

The Ministry of Transportation Departs 1,939 Travelers Boarding the KM Dobonsolo Ship. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Transportation).

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation expressed public interest in participating in the free homecoming program increased.

This is reflected in the number of travelers departing as many as 1,939 people by ship KM Dobonsolo.

The Director General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), Arif Toha, said that in this year's Free Motorcycle Travel program, the Ministry of Transportation provided a quota of 5,000 motorcycles and 10,000 passengers.

Arif said, at the second departure, the total number of passengers transported was 1,939 people and the number of motorbikes was 816 units.

"Alhamdulillah, this year community participation increased compared to last 2022, in 2023 the public is very enthusiastic about participating in the free homecoming program by ship," said Arif in an official statement, Monday, April 17.

He appealed to travelers not to force themselves to their homecoming destinations if the body condition was not fit.

Arif emphasized that travelers still have to prioritize safety.

"Homecomers, if they have done so, don't force themselves if the body is not fit, please istiharat first and then continue the journey to the city where they are going home and keep safety first," Arif said.

He explained that today's departure is the second departure for free homecoming by ship.

Previously, April 15, 2023, the first departure had been carried out and had arrived at Tanjung Mas Semarang on April 16, 2023.

"Today is the second departure, the first departure has been carried out on April 15, 2023 which was released directly by the Minister of Transportation and when he arrived in Tanjung Emas Semarang was greeted directly by the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo," he said.

Arif said, the purpose of this free homecoming activity for motorbikes by ship is an effort to divert the density of travelers on motorbikes because travelers on motorbikes are very prone to traffic accidents.

In addition, he continued, this activity is a form of introduction to travelers that sea transportation can be an alternative mode of transportation for homecoming.

"With this free homecoming, it is hoped that it can reduce the density on the highway, especially motorcyclists, we know that going home on motorbikes is very prone to accidents," concluded Arif.

For information, the free homecoming program boarded the ship this year, the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation carried out four ship departures, namely for the homecoming flow on the Jakarta-Semarang route on April 15 and 17, 2023 and for the backflow of the Semarang-Jakarta route on April 25 and 28, 2023.