TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As many as 359 crew members on board of the Dream Explorer, a cruise ship that sails from Shanghai, Sydney and Auckland, have now returned back to Indonesia through the Tanjung Priok Port, on Wednesday, April 29, 2020.

The repatriation of Indonesian crew members is an operation facilitated by The Ministry of Transportation, the COVID-19 Task Force, the National Military (TNI), the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Jakarta Provincial Government, and a number of other parties.

“The crew on board of the MV Dream Explorer were transported using a lifeboat to JICT 2 Pier of the Tanjung Priok Port for health checks," said Director of Traffic and Sea Transportation, Wisnu Handoko, in his official statement, on Wednesday evening, April 29, 2020.

Wisnu explained that, prior to docking, the crew members were first inspected by the Port Health Office (KKP) and the COVID-19 Task Force. In addition, the crew members were also administered with a COVID-19 rapid test, of which all crew members tested negative.

After inspection, crew members were then transported using 18 buses to quarantine zones in the Athlete’s Village, Kemayoran, to undergo a self isolation period of 14 days.

According to Wisnu, the repatriation of Indonesian crew members working abroad goes to show the government’s sense of responsibility to protect migrant workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, Wisnu continued, the government has also reptriated Indonesian crew members from MV Artania.

“On top of MV Artania and MV Dream Explorer, and as according to a meeting with the COVID-19 Task Force and other related parties, on April 30, we will facilitate the return of 374 crew members aboard MV Carnival Splendor," Wisnu added.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA | DIO SUHENDA (INTERN TRANSLATOR)