ASDP Ensures Readiness Of 51 Piers And 215 Ships To Face The 2024 Eid Homecoming Flow

Illustration - Atmosphere of Merak Port Executive Pier, Banten. BETWEEN/HO-ASDP

PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) has confirmed the readiness of 51 piers and 215 ships on eight nationally monitored routes during the Eid 2024 transportation period.

Meanwhile, the eight crossings, namely Merak-Bakauheni, Ketapang-Gilimanuk and Janger-Lembar, Padangbai-Lembar, Kayangan-Potoano, Ajibata-Ambarita, Bajoe-Kolaka, Tanjung Api-Api-Tanjung Kalian, and Panajam-Kariangau.

ASDP President Director Ira Puspadewi revealed that the management has carefully prepared the Eid 2024 transportation service, which is targeted to run smoothly, safely, and safely.

The readiness of ASDP and its subsidiaries on a national scale includes coordination of services by 27 branches that manage 36 ports, 225 ships (172 ASDP and 53 Nusantara Bridges) in a total of 303 trajectories spread throughout Indonesia.

"It is estimated that the number of passengers on this year's Eid transportation will reach 5.78 million passengers and 1.37 million vehicles on eight nationally monitored routes under the coordination of nine ASDP branches," said Ira as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 18.

Ira said ASDP also synergizes with authorized agencies to maintain the volume capacity ratio (v/c ratio) below 0.8 during the Lebaran transportation period, so that the smooth flow of vehicles both from and to the area around the port can be realized.

"It should be understood together that at the peak of the homecoming flow which is predicted to occur on April 6 and 7, 2024, the queue of vehicles entering the port will remain. However, what can be ascertained here is that the smooth flow of crossing traffic can be achieved if all parties are equally orderly and passengers have a maximum ticket on D-1 through the Ferizy application," said Ira.

Previously, the Director General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Hendro Sugiatno stated that the government had made technical preparations to deal with homecoming transportation, where strategically and tactically it would be the same as Lebaran 2023. However, improvement and evaluation steps were taken so that the implementation of Eid 2024 transportation would run more smoothly.

People's movement in Eid 2024 transportation is predicted to increase by 15 percent, referring to the realization of Eid 2023 transportation. In Lebaran 2024, the movement of people in Java, Sumatra, and Bali will remain a major concern.

In Lebaran 2024, several ports will be operated to divide vehicle density, such as the operation of Ciwandan Port, Bojonegara BBJ, Muara Pilu BBJ, and Indah Kiat Port (emergency) leading to Sumatra Island.

Di lintas Merak-Bakauheni sebagai jalur terbuki rencananya akan dioperasikan 55 kapal (ekspres dan regular). Sementara, lintas Ciwandan-Bakauheni disiapkan 10 kapal dan BBJ-Muara Pilu akan dilayani lima kapal.

Especially for Eid 2024 transportation, ASDP has also increased infrastructure, facilities, and also service support facilities in several main branches, including an increase in the capacity of Pier 2 Merak, which was originally 3,000 gross tonnage (GT) to 10,000 GT, providing a travelator at the access bridge to the Merak Regular Pier.

Next, the increase in pontoon piers to MB piers at Gilimanuk Port with a capacity of 5,000 GRT, toilets, health posts and buffer zones on main branch lines has been prepared as public facilities that can be used by service users.

Furthermore, ASDP also dredged the depth of the LCM pier at Gilimanuk Harbor and added one LCM pier at Gilimanuk Harbor, which was originally three piers to four piers, so that it could accommodate an additional 2,000 small vehicles.