Indonesian Warships as Free Sea Transportations

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi saw off 698 home-bound travelers aboard the naval vessel KRI Banjarmasin 592 at Tanjungpriok port in Jakarta on Saturday.

The ship had taken in Semarang-bound travelers and their motorcycles free of charge. This time the Transportation Ministry in cooperation with the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) is operating two warships to help transport Idul Fitri holiday makers.

The two warships, KRI Banjarmasin and KRI Teluk Sampit, carried homeward travelers from two different ports. "This warship (KRI Banjarmasin 592) provides free transport for homeward travelers’ motorcycles," the minister said.

KRI Banjarmasin 592 is a landing platform dock (LDP) ship with a capacity of carrying 1,000 motorcycles and 2,000 passengers. "It is for the first time ever, we provide free transportation for homeward travelers who go along with their motorcycles," he said when inspecting the passengers inside the warship.

By providing free sea transportation for homeward motorcyclists, the number of traffic accidents involving motorcyclists could hopefully be reduced, he said.

It takes less than 24 hours for the warship to reach Tanjung Emas port in Semarang, Central Java. "I ask holiday makers who want to make a trip from Jakarta to Semarang to take advantage of this service," he said.