Pelni Ambon opens aid delivery service for NTT earthquake victims

Pelni’s Ambon branch in Maluku has opened a humanitarian aid delivery service for communities affected by the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) through the company’s sea transport network.

Head of PT Pelni (Persero) Ambon Branch Robbie Ahmansyah said on Saturday that Pelni’s shipping network can be utilised to accelerate the mobilisation of aid to island regions affected by the disaster.

“We fully support the company’s efforts to help accelerate the distribution of humanitarian aid for communities affected by the disaster in NTT. As a national shipping company, we have a responsibility to ensure that sea connectivity can still be utilised optimally in emergency situations like this,” he said.

He said aid from Ambon residents can be delivered to the Pelni branch office to be sent in stages. Distribution of aid by sea is one of the important options, he said, given that NTT consists of many islands and requires inter-island connectivity.

According to Robbie, his party will continue to coordinate with relevant parties to ensure the aid transport process runs safely and orderly while maintaining shipping safety.

“We will continue to coordinate with all relevant parties so that the process of transporting and distributing aid can run safely, orderly, and on target, while prioritising safety aspects and operational reliability of shipping,” he said.

The aid arrived in Maumere on Thursday morning (20/8). The aid cargo consisted of various necessities for communities affected by the disaster, such as rice, cooking oil, baby diapers, biscuits, basic necessities, and other logistics.

On the voyage to Maumere, KM Tidar also transported aid from a number of parties so that the total aid arriving in the region reached hundreds of packages.

Robbie explained that utilising the regular shipping network allows aid to be sent without having to wait for the operation of special routes, so distribution can be adjusted to ship schedules and available ports of call.

In addition to KM Tidar, Pelni has also prepared a number of vessels serving the NTT region, including KM Bukit Siguntang, KM Lambelu, KM Tilongkabila, KM Wilis, and KM Awu.

“Further aid transport will be adjusted to regular sailing schedules and the ports of call of each ship,” he said.

To ensure smooth distribution, his party is also coordinating with stakeholders at ports, including the Harbourmaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP), Pelindo, and port operational parties according to region and needs.