RI's sea transportation needs improvement: Expert<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Sea transportation in Indonesia is less popular
\nthan ground or air transportation despite the fact that the
\narchipelagic country has more than 13,000 islands, an expert
\nsays.<\/p>\n
Ofyar Z. Tamin of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)
\nsaid in an interview with The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that this
\nalso contradicted the fact that most of the Indonesian people are
\nin the low income bracket.<\/p>\n
\"The development of sea transportation has been slower than
\nthat of air and ground. Why do we develop an open-sky policy that
\nwill benefit the rich? Sea transportation, which serves mostly
\npoor people, does need serious attention,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The sea transportation system and the development of its
\ninfrastructure have been centralized in Java, he said.
\n\"Furthermore our sea transportation system focuses on the
\ntransport of goods, instead of people as most of the sea ports
\nwere built in areas which are rich in natural resources.\"<\/p>\n
\"It's time for the government 'to restructure' the system,
\nbuild more sea ports and purchase more vessels,\" he said. \"The
\nimplementation of Law No. 22\/1999 on regional autonomy makes it
\nopportune to develop a new sea transportation system now.\"<\/p>\n
Ofyar's colleague, Agus Salim Ridwan, shared his opinion,
\nsaying that the current paradigm of sea transportation has yet to
\nbring about an improvement in people's mobility.<\/p>\n
The sea transportation system developed by the government had
\nbeen based on economic and regional concepts, and state
\nadministrative policies, said Agus Salim Ridwan, also from ITB,
\nduring a two-day seminar here last week.<\/p>\n
\"This has resulted in the sea transportation network being
\ncentralized in Java, mainly focusing on transporting goods, not
\npeople,\"<\/p>\n
Decentralization of sea transportation is a must, he said.
\n\"Centralization has hampered the development of seaports in
\nseveral regions. The sea transportation system has also become a
\nkey cause for the economic and social disparity between Java and
\nthe other islands.\"<\/p>\n
The sea transportation network has also improperly utilized
\nthe archipelagic marine potential, he said. \"The potential has
\ninstead become hurdles.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia has more than 13,000 islands and 80 percent of its
\nterritory or 7.9 million square kilometers, is water.<\/p>\n
Judging from this fact, Agus said, an appropriate sea
\ntransportation system should be formulated to hasten progress and
\ndevelopment of the islands.<\/p>\n
\"The government must change its policy and paradigm on sea
\ntransportation. In the eastern part of the country, the primary
\npurpose of sea transportation should be to connect people living
\nin remote regions to the more developed areas to improve their
\neconomic status.\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said that the Indonesian sea transportation network
\nshould anticipate the Asia-Pacific economic growth by emphasizing
\nthe expansion of strategic seaports, including, Belawan, Batam,
\nPanjang, Bojonegoro, Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Emas, Tanjung Perak,
\nMakassar, Banjarmasin, Benoa, Bitung, Ambon, Sorong, Biak and
\nJayapura. \"Our sea transportation network must also aim to
\nestablish links with Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East
\nthrough open ports.\" (25\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ris-sea-transportation-needs-improvement-expert-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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