Some 41 Ships To Carry Travelers At Bali`s Gilimanuk Port

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Forty one passenger ships, including reserve ships, are being prepared to transport post-fasting Idul Fitri holiday, or Lebaran travelers, at Bali`s Gilimuk port, according to a transportation official.

"We are preparing 38 ships, plus three reserve ships, to serve passengers at Gilimanuk port," Head of Bali`s Transportation, Communication and Information Service Ketut Artika said here on Monday.

He noted that the three reserve ships prepared by the Bali office of the Inland Waterway company (PT ASDP) were to be used in case of an anticipated increase in the number of Lebaran travelers.

The transportation service official also explained about pier preparations at the port, where he said six piers were expected to serve Lebaran travelers, locally known as `pemudik`.

At the port, which links Ketapang port in East Java, at least five ticket windows were available to the public, two being for motorcycles and four-wheel vehicles.

"We have also prepared one lane for trucks, so they can directly embark on the ships," he added.

In the meantime, the ASDP office at Ketapang port of Bangyuwangi, East Java, is preparing 44 ships to serve post-fasting Idul Fitri travelers, according to its manager.

PT ASDP Manager for Ketapang Saharudin Kotto said here on Monday that of the 44 ferries, 21 were for passenger ships to be operated through Mobil Bridge (MB) Pontoon Pier and 23 were cargo ships to sail from the Landing Craft Machine (LCM) Pier.

"However, of the 44 ships, possibly only 36 will be operated during the homeward flow and return flow of the Idul Fitri holiday, or Lebaran travelers," he said.

Saharudin said that his office had also prepared other infrastructure and facilities at Ketapang port, including the ships and piers, which would be operated during the Lebaran transportation season.

"All fleet members have been sent to the dockyard for repair so that 36 of the ships are now ready to serve homeward and reverse travelers," he noted.

The Ketapang port connects Gimanuk port in the Indonesian tourist resort province of Bali.

He said that most workers in Bali were residents of Java, so that the Ketapang - Gilimanuk crossing was expected to become one of the busiest straits in the country during the Lebaran holidays.

Some 27.9 million people in Indonesia are expected to travel home to villages to celebrate the Islamic post-fasting celebration of Idul Fitri, a seven percent increase from last year, police said.

"The holidays will certainly increase vulnerabilities, in terms of traffic," National Police Chief General Sutarman said, in a written statement read aloud by the governor of Riau province in Sumatra, Annas Maamun, at a roll call of forces assigned to ensure security during the large holiday event.

In view of the larger number of travelers, Sutarman called on his staff to implement their mandate to serve the community with sincerity, including securing traffic.

He said motorists must be reminded about the importance of following traffic signs and prioritizing safety.

"Stringent action should be taken against violators of traffic regulations, as they could threaten the safety of others," he said.

He said the number of traffic incidents had gone up year to year, increasing by 101.61 percent from 2012 to 2013.

However, he noted that accidents had been reduced by 29.77 percent last year, which his force was proud to report.

The number of traffic violations in 2012 was recorded to 5,227, but in 2013 they had fallen to 3,635.

Sutarman said the number of traffic deaths, meanwhile, had been reduced by some 12.44 percent, from 900 in 2012 to 785 in 2013. (WDY)