Jakarta (Antara Bali)- The government has assigned state shipping line company PT Pelni as executor of the public service obligation (PSO) for sea freight services under the sea toll program.
The assignment was in accordance with Presidential Regulation Number 106 of 2015, J.A. Barata, the spokesman of the transportation ministry, noted in a statement here, Wednesday.
The program is being implemented to ensure sufficient stock of goods and to reduce price disparity between urban and remote areas.
The program is also expected to guarantee sustainable freight services to remote, less advanced, border, and the outermost areas and to support the implementation of the sea toll program.
The PSO funds for PT Pelni are allocated by the transportation ministry in the state budget.
In the meantime, Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan officially launched a sea toll program at the Tanjung Priok seaport here on Nov. 4.
Three ships are deployed to serve freight on three routes as part of the implementation of the sea toll program outlined in the 2015 budget.
The first route coded "T-1" covers Tanjung Perak-Tual-Fak fak-Kaimana-Timika-Kaimana-Fak fak-Tual-Tg. Perak and is served by MV Caraka Jaya Niaga III-32.
The second route coded "T-4" covers Tg. Priok-Biak-Serui-Nabire-Wasior-Manokwari-Wasior-Nabire-Serui-Blak-Tg. Pnok and is served by MV Caraka Jaya Niaga III-22.
The third route coded "T-6" covers Tg. Priok-Kijang-Natuna-Kijang-Tg. Priok and is served by MV Caraka Jaya Niaga III-4.
The government has allocated Rp30 billion to subsidize the operations of the three freight liners for the November-December 2015 period.
In accordance with the PSO for freight budget this year, the government has allocated Rp257,907,959,000 in funds along with six ships for the implementation of the sea toll program. (WDY)
