Baubau, SE Sulawesi (ANTARA) - The Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Ministry has planned to construct a floating dock on Makassar Island (Puma) in Baubau City, Southeast Sulawesi, by utilizing the 2019 State Budget.

"The ministry's information indicated that the floating dock will be constructed this year," Head of the Development and Cultivation Area of Baubau Marine and Fisheries Agency (DKP) Ahman Basaruddin stated in Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi, Friday.

The pier reportedly measures some two meters in width and extends 80 meters long into the sea located in the Village of Liwuto, Kokalukuna District.

"The initial plan was to construct the floating dock at the Wameo Fish Auction Place (TPI) in Batupoaro Sub-district, though it was moved to Liwuto Puma after a field review conducted by the KKP Marine Space Directorate in 2017," he explained.

Basaruddin remarked that the KKP Sea Space Directorate had no choice but to change their plan and construct a floating dock in Liwuto Puma since high waves lashed the Wameo TPI area during the rainy season.

"The construction costs reach an additional Rp1 billion. However, this is what the KKP directly does. We only obtain benefits there," he noted.

He explained that the floating dock along with serving as a tourist location would double up as a berth for fishing boats and a place to facilitate passengers of traditional transport vessels in Puma-Baubau to alight and board.

"The physical workmanship is likely to be in May or June this year. It is expected to be realized," Basaruddin remarked.


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Translator: Eliswan Azly
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2019