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.