Bangka Belitung Provincial Government and Indonesian Navy Provide Free Mudik Service

The Bangka Belitung Provincial Government and the Indonesian Navy have agreed to launch a free homecoming service for residents using the naval vessel KRI Semarang 594.

“We appreciate the Indonesian Navy’s commitment to serving the public by opening a free homecoming service using KRI Semarang 594, which is docked at Tanjung Gudang Belinyu Port in Bangka,” said Bangka Belitung Governor Hidayat Arsani on Monday evening in Belinyu, Bangka.

He stated that the free service is being provided for Bangka residents currently outside the province who wish to return home for Eid celebrations, embarking from Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok Port.

“The same service is also provided for residents of Bangka Island travelling to Belitung Island, with the vessel scheduled to arrive at Belitung port on Wednesday (17 March),” he said.

“We have recorded approximately 1,300 migrants from Bangka and Belitung using the free homecoming service, consisting of 900 migrants disembarking at Tanjung Gudang Belinyu Port from Tanjung Priok, and 400 migrants boarding the vessel heading to Belitung Island,” he added.

According to the schedule, after docking and disembarking passengers at Tanjung Gudang Belinyu Port, KRI Semarang 594 will continue sailing to transport migrants to Belitung Island.

KRI Semarang 594 is one of Indonesia’s finest warships, equipped with medical facilities and other equipment to support passenger operations.