"As an archipelago, North Maluku relies heavily on sea transportation. We are pleased to see Sofifi Port operational again with the arrival of Motor Vessel Mutiara Ferindo III," North Maluku Governor Sherly Tjoanda said in Ternate on Thursday.
Following the port's reopening, she spoke with passengers to assess the facilities and inspected the operational readiness of KM Mutiara Ferindo III.
She underscored the port's strategic importance as a vital access point for North Maluku residents.
While Sofifi Port is currently focused on general cargo, the provincial government is hoping to transform it into a major container hub.
However, Governor Tjoanda acknowledged that significant improvements to the port's access roads are essential before this vision can be realized.
"The current state of the access roads makes container transportation impractical," she explained and emphasized the government's commitment to addressing infrastructure challenges to support the port's future expansion.
Related news: Government prepares Tidore Islands as National Strategic Tourism Area
Related news: Maritime is key to driving Indonesia's economic development: Jokowi
Related news: ASEAN Port Association explores Maritime Single Window development
Translator: Abdul Fatah, Aditya E.S. Wicaksono
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
