New management system planned for major ports
New management system planned for major ports
JAKARTA (JP): A number of major ports in the country will soon be supervised under a "one-roof port management system" to boost the efficiency of services, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said yesterday.
Haryanto, after meeting with President Soeharto at the Bina Graha office, said that a plan on the reorganization of four major ports -- namely Belawan in North Sumatra, Tanjung Mas in Central Java, Tanjung Perak in East Java and Makassar in South Sulawesi -- to operate the new system has the President's approval.
The new management system, Haryanto said, will be similar to that presently applied at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port.
Under the system, all the documents and cargo-handling procedures will be carried out solely by state-owned port manager PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II.
The port administration is only charged with supervising Pelabuhan II's activities and coordinating the activities of all other government agencies related to the port operations.
Previously, various government agencies, such as the port administration, the customs and excise office, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the health office, were responsible for handling documents concerning their respective offices.
The red tape caused inefficiency and complaints from port users.
Haryanto said yesterday that the one-roof system in Tanjung Priok has helped increase the port's productivity to exceed its target.
"On March 18 and March 24, for example, the port managed to unload 65,000 tons of cargo a day and 140,000 tons a day, respectively. This is more than the target of 60,000 tons a day... Last May, it was reported that the port's maximum productivity was only 49,000 tons a day, or an average of 35,906 tons a day," he said.
For container handling, Haryanto said, the highest productivity recorded on March 18 and March 24 was 3,146 containers, higher than the target of 3,000 containers.
Haryanto said yesterday he also reported to Soeharto on the reduction of excessive red tape within his office in line with the government's drive to cut the costs of doing business in Indonesia.
"Now, foreign ships do not need permits to operate in Indonesia, but they must have their legal papers in order and meet a number of safety and environmental regulations," he said.
To ease the registration of ships, the government has also added the number of registration offices to 43, from the previous 26.
For land transportation, Haryanto said, most operational permits can now be obtained free of charge.
"Control cards for public vehicles which previously had to be renewed after every trip, can now be renewed every five years," he said.
Haryanto said he also reported the results of a meeting of transportation ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The participants of the meeting decided on an "ASEAN transportation action".
The action includes the development of multi-mode transportation and trade facilities in ASEAN; the harmonization of transportation regulations in ASEAN member countries; the improvement of air transportation management; cooperation in shipping safety and prevention of seawater pollution; the development of human resources in transportation and communication; and the development of competitive air transportation services to meet the upcoming open-air policy which will be gradually applied in ASEAN. (pwn)