Many substandard ships still operating<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Director General of Sea Transportation Soentoro
\nsaid yesterday that almost one third of the ships serving 34
\npioneering routes in remote areas are below par.<\/p>\n
"I'm always cheated by those irresponsible people. Their ships
\nare already dilapidated, but they do not want to replace them.
\nThe ones who suffer most from their ignorance are those living on
\nisolated islands," Soentoro told reporters here.<\/p>\n
He noted that the government has provided subsidies of up to
\nRp 24 billion (US$11 million) for their operations this fiscal
\nyear. The subsidies are given to the shipping companies based on
\ntheir daily operations.<\/p>\n
Of the 34 routes, which cover 263 small seaports, 17 are
\nserved by state-owned shipping company PT Pelni, while the others
\nare assigned to private shipping operators based on annual
\ntenders.<\/p>\n
Soentoro noted that those companies which operate decaying
\nships are all private firms. "They only want to absorb the
\ngovernment's subsidies, but do not want to rejuvenate their
\nfleets."<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that the one-year licenses given to the
\nprivate shipping operators may not allow them enough time to
\nrenew their fleets.<\/p>\n
"I'm considering introducing long-term contracts for
\npioneering shipping so that the investors will have more
\ncertainty about investing their money in new ships," Soentoro
\nsaid at the opening of a PT Pelni meeting.<\/p>\n
Soentoro said that he also plans to cooperate with local
\nshipbuilders to construct special ships to serve pioneering
\nroutes.<\/p>\n
"Pioneering ships should be flexible. They have to provide
\nproper accommodations for passengers, they have to accommodate
\ncargoes and, most importantly, they have to be able to anchor at
\nany island," Soentoro said.<\/p>\n
He explained that since pioneering routes were opened 20 years
\nago, a number of pioneering seaports have been made into
\ncommercial ports. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/many-substandard-ships-still-operating-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}