Riau Islands Transportation Service Prepares 14 Units Of Roro Ships Sambut Christmas 2023

The roro ship is at Telaga Punggur Port. (ANTARA/Jessica)

RIAU - Riau Islands Province Transportation Agency (Kepri) said 14 units of roro ships were prepared to welcome the 2023 Christmas and 2024 new year holidays. Head of the Riau Islands Transportation Agency, Junaidi, said that the majority of the 14 roro ships served the Punggur-Uban route and vice versa. "So for the readiness of the Christmas-New Year for PT Angkutan Sungai and Ferry (ASDP), it is maximal for readiness related to the fleet. There are 14 roro ships prepared and most of the destinations for Telaga Punggur to Uban, on the other hand," Junaidi said when contacted in Batam, Antara, Friday, December 15. He added that ASDP also prepared a backup roro ship of about two fleets, in anticipation of a ship experiencing problems or engine failure. "Two or some are prepared for backup, so later if you really need it, you can go straight away," he said. Junaidi said, ASDP also re-implemented an online queue system for passengers of interprovincial trajectories that also brought their vehicles, with the Batam route to Selari and Kualatungkal. "Like last Eid, the online system has been implemented, the queue system is effective. So this is refined, and people who will travel by vehicle, especially on the Selari and Kualatungkal routes, not for Telaga Punggur-Uban," he said.

According to him, the policy can also minimize the accumulation of queues at ASDP ports, where passengers or vehicles to depart are in accordance with ship capacity and schedules ordered through online registration.