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Two ferries to ply Jakarta Bay-Seribu Islands route

JAKARTA (JP): The residents of the Seribu Islands will find it easier and quicker to reach Jakarta as the government will begin operating two ferries to ply the route on a daily basis starting next month.

The two ferries, KMP Betok I and II, owned by the PT ASDP water transportation firm, a state-owned company under the Ministry of Transportation, will cruise the Jakarta Bay-Kelapa Island and Tidung Island route.

Head of the Jakarta office of the Ministry of Transportation Karim T.J. said yesterday during a tour of the harbors in Tidung and the Kelapa islands that he hopes the economy on the two islands will develop and more tourists will visit them with the operation of the ferries.

He said each ferry, which is valued at Rp 1.9 billion (US$891,600), has 117 seats and is equipped with an air- conditioner.

The ferries are scheduled to ply the route twice a day, in the morning and afternoon, under the so-called "crossing mode." This means when Betok I is leaving Kelapa Island for Jakarta, Betok II will be traveling in the opposite direction.

At 10 knots per hour, it will take three hours for the ferries to cruise the 24-mile distance between Sunda Kelapa harbor and Kelapa Island.

Karim said the ferry fare has yet to be decided.

Secretary to the chief of the Kidung Island subdistrict, Muchamad Ali Saleh, explained that the residents of the island now paid Rp 1,500 (US 70 cents) for a trip to Rawasaban village, Tangerang aboard a boat owned by the subdistrict administration. Then they go by buses to Jakarta.

"It costs each passenger Rp 5,000 ($2.3) to reach Jakarta," Ali was quoted by Antara as saying.

There are reportedly 4,000 people living on the Kelapa and Tidung islands respectively.

The Seribu Island district, which comprises 11 subdistricts including Tidung and Kelapa, is categorized as one of the poverty pockets of the city.

The most recent study reveals that the average housewife has only Rp 7,000 ($3.33) each month with which to feed and clothe her family. Families must spend Rp 7,500 ($3.5) per month simply to finance the schooling of their high-school aged children.

Analysts have blamed the poverty on many factors, including the lack of transportation connecting the islands to Jakarta.

Waiting

Karim further said he is still waiting for a decree from the governor which will allow the ferries to call at the Sunda Kelapa or Muara Baru ports.

"Pending the gubernatorial decree, we will use Sunda Kelapa, although the port is very busy serving cargo ships. I hope the Muara Baru harbor (which also functions as fish market) can also serve the Betok ferries since there is already a public bus terminal," said Karim.

He added that the construction of the ports in Tidung and the Kelapa islands, worth Rp 2.2 billion ($1.03 million) collectively, has already been completed.

"The ports are ready to use now," said Karim. (jsk)