Merak Port filled with holiday travelers
Monday, October 15, 2007
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Banten
A massive influx of homeward-bound travelers has filled Merak Port, Banten, the main sea gateway to Sumatra.
Endin Juhaendi of state port operator PT ASDP in Merak, said the number of people crossing the Sunda Strait began to increase significantly early Thursday.
"The number of passengers crossing the Sunda Strait by ferry rose from 35,665 Wednesday to 51,556, and cars rose from 3,313 to 8,188," he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
In one day, he said, the number of passengers increased almost 66 percent.
"We received information from Bakauheni Port in Lampung that the number of passengers to Merak will reach its peak today and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday)," Endin added.
According to Endin, PT ASDP's 20 roll-on-roll-off ferries and five speedboats had managed to accommodate all the passengers.
On Thursday, ASDP was still operating three ticket booths for ferry passengers, one for speedboat passengers, two for motorcyclists and five others for cars and buses.
"We have yet to open four additional ticket booths we have prepared as a back-up," he said.
Banten Police chief Brig. Gen. Timur Pradopo, who was directly monitoring security at the busy port, said he had 1,000 officers around the port and would double that number from Thursday until the end of the 10-day national holiday.
"They will work shifts and will wear uniforms to make them easily identifiable," he said.
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