Reflecting on last year, peak mobility during the upcoming holiday period is expected to occur on December 23 and December 24, 2021, Sumadi noted.
"To anticipate overcapacity at the Merak Ferry Port, the first anticipation is to increase the number of officers on guard," he said on Wednesday.
The next effort is to optimize e-ticketing and prepare anticipatory steps if problems occur and force passengers to use manual tickets, he added.
Furthermore, the ministry will also optimize ship movement to prevent crowds, he informed.
"We will limit passenger capacity and optimize vessel operations to shorten headway or waiting time," Sumadi explained.
The Transportation Minister also highlighted the safety aspect.
A number of things must be considered related to safety, such as ensuring the quality of the ship's ramp, ensuring that the vehicle is properly tied up, and prohibiting the transportation of goods with Overdimension Over Loading (ODOL) on ships, he said.
Related news: No additional flight capacity during year-end holidays: ministry
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, as the coordinator for the handling of the Christmas and New Year holidays, explained that the government has prepared several anticipatory steps and coordinated with ministries and institutions on their implementation.
The anticipatory steps aim to control mobility in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, especially during the year-end holidays, the minister said.
“I want to make sure the coordination can run well on the field. For that, vaccination facilities, antigen tests, and isolation rooms for passengers with symptoms need to be prepared," Effendy added.
Furthermore, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that related stakeholders must carry out anticipatory steps to control the COVID-19 pandemic during the holidays.
Related news: Task Force adds isolation sites capacity ahead of holidays
The first step is implementing the health protocols, followed by the utilization of the PeduliLindungi application to ensure that all passengers have been fully vaccinated and carry a negative antigen test result, he said. The last step is continuing to expedite vaccinations, he added.
"No matter what kind of COVID-19 variant it is, it would be better for the community if they have received vaccination. I would also congratulate Banten and Lampung, which have surpassed vaccination rate above 70 percent," he remarked.
Meanwhile, National Police chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, said that he had prepared the Lilin Operation to monitor public movement during the holiday period.
The national police have prepared a number of security and service posts such as vaccination outlets, antigen test sites, and temporary isolation sites at Merak Port, he informed.
The service posts are equipped with 250 free antigen swabs and COVID-19 vaccines, he added.
Related news: Bigger vessels to ply on Merak-Bakauheni crossing: Minister
Translator: Adimas R F P, Resinta S
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
