Govt Prepares 1,259 Ships for Eid Homecoming
15 July 2014 11:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Transportation Ministry said it had prepared a total of 1,259 ships for the Eid homecoming season this year. He added the government had also readied private-owned ships.
“They are all already on standby. If more ships are needed, there will be more coming,” said Transportation Minister Evert Ernest Mangindaan on Monday.
Directorate general of sea transportation at the Transportation Ministry predicted the number of passengers traveling by sea in the Eid exodus this year would increase by three percent.
The number of homecomers leaving for their hometowns by sea last year hit 1,528,141, while the figure this year is estimated to reach 1,573,986 or 45,845 people in increase.
According to yesterday’s release from the directorate general of sea transportation, the 1,259 ships could transport around 3,359,094 passengers while 52 sea ports were predicted to see a surge in passengers.
Mangindaan said the the ships had been inspected since last month. “They have to be checked first before being used,” he said.
KHAIRUL ANAM