Those Who Cross From The Tanjunguban Port Of Riau Islands Are Booming, The Ships Are Even Too Late To Sail

Hundreds of vehicles line up at Tanjunguban Port, Riau Islands. (Antara/Nikolas P)

KEPRI - Operation of ships at Tanjunguban Port, Riau Islands (Kepri) has experienced delays. As a result, hundreds of motorcyclists, cars and trucks were forced to queue at the port on Tuesday, April 19.

Normally, the ship's operation once an hour sails from Tanjunguban Port to Tanjung Punggur Port.

Based on observations, more than 100 units of cars lined up from this morning until noon.

Putri, one of the car drivers, admitted that she had queued since 09.00 WIB and until 12.00 WIB the Roro Ship had not yet appeared to be docked at Tanjunguban Harbor.

"At 10.00 WIB there was a Roro Ship sailing, but I have not had a turn because there have been passengers who have been lining up since 08.00 WIB," he said.

A number of officers at the port were also unable to confirm what time the Roro Ship arrived at Tanjunguban Port.

The hot weather made the passengers hot, especially those who were fasting. "I think every hour the ship sails, such as information on the news and social media. It turns out that it has been more than three hours and it hasn't sailed yet," said Saroni, one of the passengers, quoted from Antara.

Head of the Riau Islands Transportation Service, Junaidi, has not received any information about the long queues at Roro Tanjunguban Port.

"As far as I know it is running normally. If the conditions are like this (long queues) I have not received any information. I coordinated with ASDP Batam to find out the problem," he said.

Previously, General Manager of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) Batam, Syamsudin said that the condition of the Roro Tanjunguban and Tanjung Punggur ports was normal in the morning and afternoon. However, in the afternoon there was a buildup of passengers so they had to queue for hours.

The build-up of passenger vehicles occurred on a Friday afternoon holiday, April 15. The accumulation of passenger vehicles was caused by two of the four ships not operating. The two ships that were not operating were due to being "docking" or being repaired, respectively.

The two ships belong to PT ASDP and PT Jembatan Nusantara, a subsidiary of PT ASDP. Meanwhile, the two Roro Vessels operating are also owned by PT ASDP and PT Jembatan Nusantara.