BPTD Proposes Assistance Ferry Ship For Situbondo-Madura Crossing

Trucks parked around the Tier Situbondo Port pier, East Java (East Java). BETWEEN/Novi Husdinariyanto

The Tier Ferry Port Service Unit, Situbondo at the Land Transportation Management Center (BPTD) Region XI of East Java Province (Jatim) proposed a ferry for assistance to the central government, to unravel the density of passengers on the 2024 Eid homecoming flow at the Situbondo Anchor Port.

Deputy Coordinator of the Janger Ferry Port Service Unit, Situbondo Ahmad Rozikin explained that the proposed addition of ferries for crossings from Janger Port (Situbondo) to several islands in Sumenep Regency, Madura, is needed to anticipate the boom of travelers at Janger Port.

"We have submitted the proposal for the assistance ship for the Lebaran homecoming flow this year to the central government, hopefully it will be realized because this is for the sake of smooth homecoming," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, March 21.

According to Rozikin, so far there have been three units of ferries operating on the Janger-Madura crossing track, namely KMP Mugiyango Hulalo on the Janger-Kanget-Kangean route, KMP Wicitradharma I on the Janger-Sapudi-Bungget route, and KMP Dharma Kartika on the Janger-Raas-Kusget route.

Learning from the experience of previous years, he said, at Janger Port it is dominated by travelers from Bali Island to Raas Island (Madura), and it is estimated that around 15 thousand people will go home to Raas Island.

"Therefore, the assistance ship is very much needed for the Situbondo-Madura track, especially for travelers to Raas Island," he said.

Rozikin explained that Janger Port, Situbondo also serves ferry transportation from Janger to Lembar, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Seven ferry fleets operate on the Janger-Lembar (interprovincial) crossing, he said, namely KMP Trimas Laila, KMP Tunju Partama Kaya 5888, KMP Marisa Nusantara, KMP Dharma Ferry IX, KMP Swarna Kehitung, KMP Parna Kaliyani, and KMP Jatra II.

"Of the seven ferry boats on the Janger-Lembar crossing, one of them is currently in the process of being repaired or is already in the process of being docking, while six other ferry units have been declared seaworthy and are ready to serve the flow of Eid homecoming," said Rozikin.