Makassar Mayor Launches Free 'Pete-pete Laut' Ferry to Connect City's Outer Islands

Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin launched the KM Banawa Nusantara 27 transport service, dubbed the ‘Pete-pete Laut’, at Barrang Lompo Island Pier in the Sangkarrang Islands District on Friday (12/6). Munafri Arifuddin stated that the launch of the Pete-pete Laut provides a solution to the limited transport access long faced by the Sangkarrang Islands community. The service operates regularly once a week, every Monday, and is prioritised for teaching staff, health workers, students, and the general public residing in the Sangkarrang Islands. “Today we are carrying out the initial launch of a programme that is a solution for the conditions of the Sangkarrang Islands community,” said Munafri. The boat will depart from Barrang Lompo Island at 07:00 Wita, serving routes to Bone Tambu Island, Lumu-Lumu Island, Langkai Island, and continuing to the outermost islands before returning to Barrang Lompo. Munafri added that the Pete-pete Laut service is provided free of charge. He stressed that this transport does not belong to the government, but is a public facility that must be maintained and utilised together by all island residents. “This does not belong to the government, but to the community, facilitated by the government. Therefore, every journey on this boat is free of charge. No tariff is set. Everything is free for the people on the islands,” he said. The presence of this transport mode marks an important milestone in the Makassar City Government’s efforts to strengthen connectivity between the island regions and the mainland. This programme is also believed to be a solution supporting access to education, health, and various other public services previously hampered by transport factors. Until now, transport access has been one of the main challenges faced by island communities, from students having to travel to school, teachers assigned to the islands, to health workers. Now, through a scheduled and free maritime transport service, the mobility of residents in the Sangkarrang Islands District is expected to become easier, faster, and more affordable. “All this time, the transport route has been a factor limiting development progress, both infrastructure development and human resource development in the island regions,” said Munafri. The operation of the Pete-pete Laut is seen as a symbol of equitable development reaching all areas of Makassar City, including its island clusters. This programme is also part of the realisation of a political promise made by Munafri Arifuddin and Aliyah Mustika Ilham during the 2024 Regional Election, which positioned island communities as an important part of inclusive and just city development. Island residents can now directly experience a public service designed to bring access closer, speed up services, and improve the quality of life for communities on Makassar City’s outermost islands. “I want to ensure that with the presence of the Pete-pete Laut, community access becomes easier. On the other hand, the government can also get closer to see and reach the islands we own,” said Munafri. “The islands here are an inseparable part of Makassar City and must be protected together,” he continued. Currently, a single vessel is deemed unable to accommodate all the transport needs of the island community. For this reason, the government will calculate operational requirements and a service development scheme so that the programme can continue by eventually providing around two to three boats. On the same occasion, Munafri reminded about the aspects of shipping safety, especially as the Pete-pete Laut can carry up to 30 passengers. He requested the Transportation Agency ensure all safety and service standards are fully met. One measure is providing one life jacket for each passenger and ensuring the boat’s communication devices function properly during the journey. “I ask that all aspects of transport service be considered. The most important is the safety aspect. This boat must be equipped with complete and adequate safety equipment, and must not be overloaded,” Munafri added. Munafri emphasised that the operation of the Pete-pete Laut must fulfil the principles of security, safety, comfort, equality, and ease as part of the minimum service standards for public transport. At the end of his speech, he invited the entire Sangkarrang Islands community to maintain and care for the facility provided by the government so that its benefits can be felt in the long term. “I hope the community together looks after this Pete-pete Laut. This belongs to all of us, belongs to the island residents, facilitated by the government to serve as a means of inter-island transport,” said Munafri. Head of the Makassar City Transportation Agency, Muhammad Rheza, explained that the readiness of the fleet, human resources, and the boat’s operational scheme have been prepared to serve the island community. The vessel used is a Banawa Nusantara boat that has been owned and operated by the Makassar Transportation Agency. In terms of shipping safety, all crew members have met competency standards and certification in accordance with international maritime safety standards, including Basic Safety Training (BST), Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF), and Security Awareness Training certificates, which are mandatory requirements for seafarers. The crew members are also bound by a work agreement with the Makassar City Transportation Agency. “Our boat crew consists of five people, namely the captain, helmsman, and three deckhands,” he said. On that occasion, Rheza also revealed that the operation of the Pete-pete Laut is carried out using the boat’s operational budget that has been available. “This programme was born from good intentions and a commitment to serve the community,” he concluded.