Cargo ships will start to transport people and logistics to and from Tobelo Port in North Halmahera, Maluku, at the end April, linking the Eastern Indonesian region to the nation’s so-called maritime highway network.

Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan said investment of Rp 160.3 trillion (US$12.1 billion) into the port, which features a 174-meter dock for general cargo, would allow big vessels with a capacity of 2,000 deadweight tons (DWT) to load and discharge their cargo.

Aside from that, the port has a dock for unloading containers to accommodate 10,000 DWT vessels. Meanwhile, it has a 135-meter pier to accommodate 1,000 DWT ferries.

"That is a large cruise vessel," Jonan said at the inauguration ceremony of Tobelo Port on Wednesday.

Onshore facilities include a ​​3-hectare container yard, a warehouse and a passenger terminal.

Meanwhile, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inaugurated Galela Port, Tutu Kembong Port, Wonreli Port and Teor Island Port, also located in Maluku province.

Together with Wasior Port in Papua, inaugurated on Tuesday, the five ports are part of the government's maritime highway program to connect Eastern Indonesia with large seaports in Java, including Tanjung Priok in Jakarta and Tanjung Perak in Surabaya.

"The sea highway program aims to connect islands, provinces and districts throughout Indonesia. We want to link Tobelo to Aceh," Jokowi said, adding that the government would add more routes and ferries in Tobelo.

He reiterated that the government was currently focusing on three issues to accelerate development, namely deregulation, infrastructure and human resources. "Ports on the [outer] islands need to be developed. Where the money comes from, that's my business. I will look for it," he said.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Ayomi Amindoni

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