Navy Warships to Help Transport Idul Fitri Travelers

Sampit, Central Kalimanta (ANTARA) - Two navy warships have been made ready at Sampit port in Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, to anticipate a sharp hike in transport demand ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday. The port administrator, Edi Sumarsono, said here on Tuesday the two navy warships - the KRI Teluk Sampit and KRI Teluk Mandar - would be operated in case of an emergency, namely when the available civilian ships could not accommodate all passengers. There has now been an increase in the number of passengers wishing to return to their home villages to celebrate the annual Islamic post-fasting festivities. Edi said from August 1 to 23 a total of 13,000 passengers had been taken from the port to such destinations as Surabaya, East Java, and Semarang in Central Java. The peak of departures from the port is expected to occur four days and one day after the Idul Fitri which falls on August 29. "If no overcrowding occurs and all the passengers can be accommodated, the navy warships will not be used," he said.