TNI Anniversary Celebration Incurs Rp50bn to Businesses

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The preparation and celebration of the Indonesian National Army's (TNI) 69th anniversary in Surabaya during the past week left a mountain of losses for the business world. The shipping business, along with the aviation and logistics transport industry, are expected to have suffered a loss of Rp40billion to Rp50 billion.

"It was the impact of the closure of Port of Tanjung Perak and Surabaya's west and east shipping channels," Zaldi Masita, chairman of the Indonesian Logistics Association, told Tempo yesterday.

According to Zaldi, the losses incurred are caused by, among others, the increasing cost of vessels' waiting fees, which had to be borne by the shipping companies. "The delays reach one to two days, and [the costs] are not something we can impose on customers."

Boat queues got long after west Surabaya's shipping channel (APBS) as well as the east (APTS) were closed. "Ships queued up to 25 miles from the landing zone, costing up to US$3 billion per day," chief of the Indonesian National Shipowners Association, Carmelita Hartoto said yesterday.

Bayu Sutanto, chief of scheduling at the Indonesian National Air Carrier Association (INACA), said the losses suffered was more than just money, but also a disruption of schedule. "Rotation crew, aircraft, and flight schedules were disrupted," he told Tempo. 

ALI HIDAYAT | SAID HELABY | ARTIKA RACHMI (SURABAYA)| MOHAMMAD SYARRAFAH (SIDOARJO) | RACHMA TRI WIDURI