Tourists Explode, The Number Of Crossings At Sabang Aceh Port Plus

Passengers and four-wheeled vehicles exited the Great Aceh 2 ship upon arrival at the port of Ulee Lheue, Banda Aceh, Aceh, Friday (30/6/2023). (ANTARA)

BANDA ACEH - PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) added a Banda Aceh - Sabang crossing trip or vice versa to five trips, to serve an increase in passengers traveling to Sabang during the Eid al-Adha 1444 Hijri holiday and school holidays.

"The increase in passengers began last Saturday, so we added five trips," said General Manager of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) Banda Aceh Branch Agus Djoko Triyanto, quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, July 2.

ASDP Banda Aceh Branch has prepared two ships to serve tourists during the long holiday, with the Ulee Lheu Port crossing route Banda Aceh - Balohan Sabang Port or vice versa.

The two ships are KMP Aceh Great 2, with a passenger capacity of 340 people and KMP BRR with a capacity of 250 people.

He explained, on Saturday July 1, the number of passengers reached 400 people per trip either from Banda Aceh-Sabang or vice versa.

For the fifth trip, KMP Aceh Hebat 2 which will move from Sabang was forced to be detained at Balohan Harbor due to extreme weather conditions so that the ship could not move out of Sabang Bay.

"While the wind speed in Banda Aceh can still be tolerated at 12 knots. We'll wait to subside, the cargo process is complete and we leave, so last night all ships docked at Balohan Harbor," he said.

This condition, continued Agus, made the first trip departure on Sunday 2 July from Banda Aceh to be postponed while waiting for KMP BRR from Sabang. Passengers from Banda Aceh only started to get stuck on the second trip, namely 11.00 WIB.

"Yesterday, because there was a cargo that we projected to be transported, we added five trips. I'm worried that if we live here, then (Sunday) in the morning it will be very piled up, and we can even get out of the port area," he said.

Meanwhile, for today, Agus added, the number of passengers on the second trip is around 300 people. So far, the flow of passengers is still running smoothly. Weather conditions are also quite conducive for shipping.

"The weather conditions are still conducive, the wind speed is still low, it doesn't interfere with shipping. Our prediction is that this increase in passengers occurred yesterday and today alone, tomorrow is regular, three trips," he said.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reminded that weather conditions in the last three days have also affected the coastal areas of Aceh and sea crossings with a wave height of up to 4 meters in a number of Aceh areas.

Among them are in the waters of North Sabang, West Indian Ocean Aceh, West Aceh Waters, the northern part of the Malacca Strait and its surroundings.

"For the condition of sea waves, the Banda Aceh - Sabang crossing route is low to moderate, it ranges from 0.5-1.25 meters," said BMKG Class I forecaster Sultan Iskandar Muda Aceh Besar Nasyithah Az-Zahra Lubis.