6 Eid Homecoming Transport Ships Undergo Annual Maintenance, Pelni: We're Sorry

KUPANG - PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni) Persero will carry out maintenance on its six ships in March 2023 to ensure that the entire fleet is ready for the 2023 Eid Transport which will begin next April.

PT Pelni Head of Corporate Secretariat Opik Taupik said the maintenance of the ship is an annual schedule.

"While undergoing maintenance, we apologize to our customers because there is no replacement ship. We urge them to be able to adjust travel schedules or look for other transportation options until the ship's maintenance is complete and back in operation," he said as quoted by Antara , Monday, March 6.

He said a number of ships undergoing the maintenance were KM Lambelu which served the Makassar-Parepare-Balikpapan-Pantoloan-Tarakan-Nunkan round trip (PP) route.

KM Lambelu himself has been carrying out maintenance since February 15 and until March 25 2023.

Then KM Leuser which serves the Makassar-Baubau-Wanci-Namrole-Ambon-Saumlaki-Tual-Dobo-Timika-Agats-Merauke PP route which has been undergoing maintenance since March 1 and was completed on March 16.

The third ship is KM Sinabung which serves the Surabaya - Makassar - Bau Bau - Banggai-Bitung-Ternate-Bacan-Sorong-Manokwari-Biak-Jayapura round trip route.

The ship began undergoing maintenance from March 17 to 30.

The fourth is KM Bukit Siguntang which serves the route Makassar-Maumere-Lewoleba-Kupang-Lewoleba-Maumere-Makassar-Parepare-Balikpapan-Tarakan-Nunukan PP.

KM Bukit Siguntang began undergoing nurses from March 6 to 28.

Next is KM Awu with the route Surabaya-Kumai-Surabaya-Benoa-Bima-Waingapu-Ende - Kupang - Kalabahi PP. The ship began undergoing maintenance from March 13 to 25.

The last ship is KM Nggapulu which serves the Tanjung Priok - Surabaya - Makassar-Baubau-Ambon-Banda-Tual-Dobo-Kaimana-Fak Fak PP route and has started undergoing maintenance since February 16 and will end on March 19.

Opik said that of the six ships, five of them were undergoing maintenance at the PT PAL Surabaya dock with a construction time of 14-45 days. The maintenance was carried out starting from painting, repairing safety facilities to thickening the ship's plates.

Opik added, with KM Lambelu and KM Bukit Siguntang undergoing maintenance at the same time, the routes in the central region of Indonesia would experience an empty Pelni ship until the time for both maintenance was completed.

"We hope that our loyal customers can adjust their travel schedules until the two ships have finished undergoing maintenance and are ready to serve the route again. We are trying to schedule maintenance on time and our customers can return to sailing with Pelni ships," said Opik.