TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Transportation Ministry halted all operations of commercial ships in order to comply with the government’s ban on the annual mass exodus or locally known mudik.

The suspension will be effective from April 24 until June 8, 2020.

“The period of the suspension of ship operation is the longest among all transport modes because there are long-distance services,” said the Transportation Ministry’s Sea Transport Director-General Agus Purnomo during an online press conference on Thursday, April 23.

However, Agus explained ships that are used to distribute logistics and repatriate Indonesian citizens and foreigners are still permitted to operate.

Other ships that are eligible for sailing are Military or Police ships, state ships, and small ships providing short-distance services. “We have the discretion to let them operate as normal,” Agus added.

The Transportation Ministry earlier issued a regulation related to the mudik ban during the Eid al-Fitr holiday or Lebaran this year, which is aimed at preventing further spreading of the novel coronavirus.

The policy banned all transportation modes, including private vehicles, from operating during the pandemic. For land and air transports, it will be effective until May 31 and June 1, 2020, respectively.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA