Two New East Indonesia Sea Toll Routes Have Operated

The Minister of Transportation through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation has opened two additional routes for the sea highway program which is now operating in the eastern part of Indonesia, namely Papua and West Papua.

Route 27 (T-27) starts from Merauke-Pomako and Pomako Merauke. Why was Merauke chosen, because Merauke is a typical port with regional superior commodities. Then Route 28 (T-28) is NTT-Papua with the route reaching several areas in NTT, namely Kupang, Labuan Bajo, Atapupu, Reo.

"These two routes have been operating before PON XX Papua," explained the Head of the Sea Transportation Traffic Section and KSOP Class II Jayapura Port, Willem Fofid after attending a coordination meeting to accelerate the implementation of public service obligations for sea freight (sea toll) in 2021 on the route. 28, route 27 and route 19 in Merauke, Tuesday (09/11).

This meeting was attended by the special staff of the Minister of Transportation for Inter-Institutional Relations, Major General TNI Mar (ret) Buyung Lalana, the local government, the Head of Industry and Trade and Industry, Chairman Alfi, millennial farmer alliances, representatives of farmer groups and other related parties which was held at KSOP Merauke, Monday (08 /11).

Willem Fofid said, KSOP Jayapura is the Regional Coordinator for all UPT (Technical Implementing Units) of Sea Transportation in the administrative area of ​​​​Papua Province. So as the regional coordinator, continue to provide guidance, supervisors and assistants for UPTs in need, such as the KSOP in Merauke.

He said that the national strategic program, namely the sea highway, is an implementation of President Jokowi's nawa ideals by reaching 3T areas and border areas. This program has reached all regions and the largest is carried out in eastern Indonesia, namely Papua and West Papua. Of course there are various characteristics of the area that must be reached and according to ship specifications.

Apparently, said Fofid, the level of public expectation of the sea highway is very high for several provinces around Eastern Indonesia which are close to NTT and Papua, namely Maluku Province. Based on the results of research from the technical team of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation (Ditlala), the potential market place in Maluku Province can be reached. So that ships for the NTT-Papua route will be set aside to add stopover ports in Maluku Province, namely Saumlaki, Ambon, Dobo and will also reach other ports in the province to North Maluku.

"According to market demand there, especially 10 containers of Merauke rice to Ambon, 1 container of Saumlaki and 2-3 containers of Dobo," said Fofid.

He continued, this is an appreciation and joy for Papua that the results of Merauke's superior commodities, especially rice, have begun to be felt in almost all of Indonesia. This effort should be welcomed by farmers because the government makes policies to accommodate the needs in Eastern Indonesia.

It is said, with a long route as a step to reduce price disparities. This is because the purpose of the sea highway is to facilitate connectivity and the price disparity can be reduced so that it can be reached in the 3T area. The supporting elements of the marine highway are pioneer ships, and the Public Service Obligation (PSO).

There are three subsidy patterns in the sea highway, the first is a container subsidy, a cargo subsidy and a ship operational subsidy. These three patterns are for the transportation of goods at sea, specifically for containers.

SOURCE: https://infopublik.id/categories/nusantara/580468/dua-trayek-baru-tol-laut-indonesia-timur-telah-operate?show=