Bandarlampung, Lampung Province (ANTARA News) - State-owned inland waterway transportation service PT ASDP has prepared 42 ferries to anticipate increasing number of passengers during 2013 Lebaran holiday exodus, according to its operation manager Heru Purwanto.

"Every day we operate 29 ferries to serve the passengers and vehicles from the ports of Bakauheni to Merak and vice-versa," Heru said here on Thursday.

He noted that a number of other ferries operated between Bakauheni and Merak ports, were undergoing regular repair and they would be ready to serve the passengers during the holiday exodus.

According to him, other ferries with larger capacity would also be operated to connect Bakauheni port in Lampung and Merak port on western tip of Java island.

One of them is KMP Portlink, a luxury ferry weighing more than 12,000 gross tons (GT) that has been operated to serve the Merak-Bakauheni route.

KMP Portlink is the first Indonesian Roll-On Roll-Off [Ro-Ro] ferry equipped with complete facilities for pleasurable trips.

It has has a car deck that can accommodate up to 370 vehicles. The ferry with an overall length of 131 meters and 22 meters width, can carry up to 1,000 passengers.

KMP portlink is equipped with comfortable facilities and is designed with a beautiful interior. A lounge with various cuisines catering to a number of tastes is available. Passengers can also find a business center with Internet access, an entertainment room with cinema facilities and children playgrounds.

Besides, Heru said five docks at Bakauheni and Merak ports are also ready to be used.

Heru pointed out that the parking area at Bakauheni port has also been made ready to accommodate at least 6,000 private cars.

During the peak holiday season the number of ferry passengers can reach 100 thousands in addition to tens of thousands vehicles per day.

(O001/f001)

Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013