Pelni ships avoid Baubau port

Pelni ships avoid Baubau port

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Passenger ships of state shipping
company PT Pelni are skipping Murhum Baubau port in Southeast
Sulawesi to avoid nonpaying passengers from boarding.

Nasrul Gaus, head of PT Pelni in Baubau, said that security
was not guaranteed at the port. "Apart from passengers without
tickets, many people boarding at Baubau port have made trouble on
board. This shows that the handling of passengers has been very
poor there."

"Once the ship crew found 611 passengers without tickets. They
got angry when the crew asked them for their tickets," he said.

"The Lambelu vessel has skipped the port twice. The crew said
they would not stop at Baubau until security is guaranteed. Other
Pelni vessels will also skip Baubau, and people will find it
increasingly difficult to get sea transportation," Nasrul said.

Other Pelni ships which usually stop at Baubau are the
Rinjani, Ciremai, Kelimutu, Tatamailau, Tilongkabila and Bukit
Siguntang.