Indonesian Navy to deploy 27 warships for holidaymakers

Indonesian Navy to deploy 27 warships for holidaymakers

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Navy will deploy 27 of its
warships to help transport millions of people who will be
traveling by seas in the coming holiday season, the Ministry of
Communications said on Tuesday.

Without the frills offered by passenger liners, the Navy is
offering its 947,000 places available on its 27 ships during the
holiday at half the going economic rate.

"Passengers only need to pay for the meals on board," Director
General of Sea Transportation Tjuk Sukardiman was quoted by
Antara as saying.

Tickets for services out of Jakarta will be sold by Pelni, the
state-owned shipping line, in its counters in Tanjung Priok port,
North Jakarta, and Pelni head office in Kemayoran, Central
Jakarta.

The government estimates that one million people will be
traveling by ships during the Christmas, Idul Fitri and New Year
holidays at the end of this month. This represents a 20 percent
increase from last year's level.

M. Simaremare, executive manager of the directorate of sea
traffic at the directorate general, a total of 602 ships
belonging to Pelni, the Navy and private operators would be
deployed during the holiday.

He said problems usually developed because the bulk of the
people want to travel at the same time, usually closer to
Christmas and Idul Fitri, the Muslim holiday marking the end of
the Ramadhan fasting month which falls on Dec. 27.

The government has predicted the number of people who will be
traveling during the holiday across the country will reach 18
million people, up from 16 million last year. (04)