Two Warships Ready to Carry Idul Fitri Homeward-Bound Travelers

Sampit, C Kalimantan (Antara) - Two warships will be made ready at Sampit port in East Kotawaringin district, Central Kalimantan, to anticipate an exodus of Idul Fitri homeward-bound travelers, a spokesman said. "Right now only two TNI (Indonesian Navy) warships will help serve homeward-bound travelers at Sampit port. The substitute ships will be made ready to anticipate an exodus of homeward-bound travelers," the head of the East Kotawaringin district transportation, communication and informatics office, Rustam Fuadi said here on Tuesday. He said the district administration had applied to the transport minister in Jakarta for extra ships to carry the rising number of travelers who are expected to reach their peak seven days before the Muslim holiday of Lebaran. He said East Kotawaringin district head Supiah Hadi had signed the application sent to the transport minister, with copies addressed to the directors of shipping companies PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni) and Dharma Lautan Utama (DLU). "The number of homeward-bound travelers this year is expected to increase sharply so the number of ship calls which reaches 17 is not enough and two more ship calls are needed," he said. The number of Idul Fitri homeward-bound travelers leaving the port for other cities in the country rose to 45,000 in 2012 from 32,000 in 2011. "We have anticipated a surge in the number of travelers by among others applying for extra ships," he said. (*)