Batam operates new ferry port

Batam operates new ferry port

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam

The Batam authority launched on Friday the operation of a new
international ferry port linking the industrial island to
Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

The Batam Center International Port was built by the Batam
Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) together with PT Sinergi
Tarada at a total cost of Rp 76 billion (about US$8.9 million).
BIDA covered Rp 36 billion of the total cost, while the remainder
was paid by Sinergi.

Sinergi will operate the port for 30 years, BIDA chairman
Ismeth Abdullah told reporters during the ceremony to mark the
operation of the port.

The port was launched by Ismeth and Batam mayor Nyat Kadir.

The new port, occupying five hectares of land at the Batam
Center business and office center in Nongsa district, will
replace the Batu Ampar port, which will be closed.

Ismeth said the development of the new port was aimed at
establishing superior infrastructure on the island in line with
the government's plan to turn the industrial bonded zone into a
free-trade area.

Aside from the new Batam Center port, the island has three
other international ferry ports, that is Sekupang, Nongsa Point
Marina and Marina City.

However, Sinergi's president Muhammad Soni said the Batam
Center port was the best of all.

"The port is more comfortable than the other three and it has
more sophisticated facilities," he said.

It takes 45 minutes by ferry from Batam to Singapore.

BIDA's data shows tourist arrivals reached 1.1 million last
year, a slight decrease from the peak arrivals of 1.25 million in
1999.