Govt ensures seamless sea travel during holidays

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi said his side has ensured that sea transportation services during the Christmas and New Year holiday period have been operating smoothly so far.

Minister Purwagandhi stated that his side visited ports to inspect the readiness of sea transportation facilities and infrastructure in serving the community, as well as ensuring smooth sailing.

"We interacted with many passengers, made sure the entire crew was on standby, and saw firsthand the ship readiness and seaworthiness," Purwagandhi noted in the ministry's statement received on Monday.

On Sunday (December 29), Minister Purwagandhi and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono visited Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta to check the sea transportation services during the year-end holiday period.

Purwagandhi appealed to all sea transportation service providers and stakeholders to always improve and prioritize passenger security and safety and to provide optimal service.

In Tanjung Priok Port, Minister Purwagandhi and Minister Yudhoyono inspected the facilities at the passenger terminal and greeted passengers on the KM Labobar Ship, which was preparing to sail from Jakarta to Surabaya, Makassar, Baubau, Ambon, and several regions in Papua.

Purwagandhi noted that the Tanjung Priok Port is one of the crucial points for the movement of people in and out of Jakarta via sea routes.

The number of sea transportation passengers and ship crossings during the Christmas and New Year holiday period increased as compared to normal days.

Based on state-owned shipping company Pelni's data, 13,425 people purchased tickets departing from or arriving at Tanjung Priok during the period of December 11, 2024, - January 8, 2025, with the busiest routes to Makassar, Batam, and Belawan.