ASDP Adds Vessels To Anticipate Peak Homecoming Flows

Homecoming cars line up for the ferry at Merak Harbor Executive Pier, Cilegon, Banten, Thursday (28/4/2022). ANTARA/Michael Siahaan

MERAK - PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry increased the number of ships destined for Merak-Bakauheni Port from 29 to 40 units to anticipate the peak of the homecoming flow which is expected to occur on Friday (29/4) and Saturday (30/4).

"We will take several anticipatory steps to deal with the potential for significant queues at the peak of the homecoming flow," PT ASDP Indonesia Corporate Secretary Ferry Shelvy Arifin said in a written statement quoted by Antara, Thursday, April 28.

In addition, with the same goal, ASDP also enforces additional travel frequency, accelerates loading and unloading times, operates ships with sizes above 10,000 GRT and operates Pier 1 Merak.

The trend of passenger congestion at Merak Port can be seen from the number of people and vehicles leaving Java Island from April 22, 2022 until D-4 Lebaran, Thursday (28/4).

During that time, 368,829 people and 86,251 vehicles left Java from Merak Harbor.

Of the total number of vehicles, there are 47,599 cars, 16,326 motorcycles, 2,716 buses and 19,610 trucks.

ASDP acknowledged that there was a density of passengers at Merak Port, which caused a lot of queues of vehicles at the port to board the ship.

According to Shelvy Arifin, this situation prompted the police to instruct the police to implement an open and close system on the Cikuasa Atas route, after the exit of the Merak Toll Gate.

"We apologize for the inconvenience of service users who experience long queues when going to the port or when they are about to board the ship. We continue to coordinate with relevant stakeholders so that this incident does not happen again, and also continue to improve services," said Shelvy.