MV Sabuk Nusantara 35 is planned to arrive on April 28 and depart for Surabaya on April 29. The capacity is around 238 passengers. We are optimistic that the remaining passengers, who have not been served by PT Pelni and PT DLU ships, would be handleSampit (ANTARA) - Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation will send a ship -- MV Sabuk Nusantara 35 -- to facilitate Eid homecoming transportation at Sampit Port in East Kotawaringin District, Central Kalimantan Province.
"MV Sabuk Nusantara 35 is planned to arrive on April 28 and depart for Surabaya on April 29. The capacity is around 238 passengers. We are optimistic that the remaining passengers, who have not been served by PT Pelni and PT DLU ships, would be handled by MV Sabuk Nusantara 35," Head of the Harbormaster Office and the Sampit Port Authority (KSOP), Agustinus Maun, noted on Tuesday.
Homecoming transportation at Sampit Port has, so far, been served by MV Kirana I and MV Kirana III belonging to PT Dharma Lautan Utama (DLU) and MV Kelimutu and MV Lawit of PT Pelni. Since the start of Ramadan until today, a total of 3,392 passengers departed for Semarang and Surabaya from Sampit Port.
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Currently, ship departures for the 2022 Eid homecoming comprised two departures for ships belonging to PT DLU and two departures for PT Pelni ships. Passengers are estimated to reach 100-percent capacity, such as the departure of MV Kirana III to Surabaya on April 25.
MV Kirana III sailed to Surabaya, with 706 passengers on board. In addition, this ship carried a cargo of 10 large trucks, 23 private cars, and 34 motorcycles.
The peak of the homecoming flow is estimated to occur on April 27, with two ships departing for Semarang. The authority has made preparations to ensure the safety and security of the ships while docking at the port.
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For the 2022 Eid homecoming, the Transportation Ministry will give zero dispensation or additional shipload capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regions, with level 1 and 2 community activity restrictions (PPKM), are allowed to use 100 percent of the ship capacity.
The Ministry of Transportation will also send assistance in the form of MV Sabuk Nusantara 35 to transport travelers. The ticket price for this ship is estimated to be lower than that for a commercial ship.
"We are optimistic that all prospective passengers, who would go home to Java, can be accommodated. We hope that the 2022 Eid homecoming at Sampit Port would run smoothly," Maun noted.
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Translator: M Yusuf/Norjani, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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