Navy prepares fleet for Idul Fitri

JAKARTA: Upon a request from the Ministry of Transportation, the Navy has prepared seven landing ship tanks (LSTs) to carry holiday revelers who wish to celebrate Idul Fitri at their hometowns.

The ships are standing by at Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta and Tanjung Perak port in Surabaya, with the former serving revelers with western Indonesia destinations and the latter for destinations in eastern Indonesia. Each vessel is capable of carrying up to 700 passengers.

Navy spokesman Maj. Henry Pakan said KRI Teluk Sibolga, which is docking at Tanjung Priok, would be ready to transport holiday- goers to their hometowns, and is traveling from Jakarta to Belitung in Riau.

Henry said the Navy will cover all operational expenses of the vessels, with the Ministry of Transportation providing meals for passengers. -- Antara