REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SEMARANG - The Transportation Ministry and the Indonesian Navy have established cooperation to prepare warships to transport Christmas and New Year holiday travelers if the number of regular ships does not suffice.

"It is okay to use warships to transport Christmas and New Year holidaymakers, especially to and from places outside Java such as from Nunukan in Kalimantan to eastern Indonesian regions. They are being prepared in case the number of regular ships is not adequate," Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan said while inspecting the Tanjung Emas Seaport in Semarang, Central Java, on Wednesday.

Accompanied by relevant ministry officials, the minister inspected three points of transportation during his visit to Semarang. These included the Tawang Railway Station, the Tanjung Emas Seaport and the Ahmad Yani Airport. Jonan stated that he had coordinated with the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) to prepare warships for deployment at certain points outside Java if regular ships were not able to transport all passengers.

"In case the number of regular ships is not enough, we have asked the TNI for assistance so the warships can be prepared," he explained.

The number of commuters who will travel using public transportation during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays is estimated to reach 14 million, according to the directorate general of land transportation of the ministry of transportation.

"The number of passengers can reach 14 million this year," acting director general of land transportation, Sugihardjo, told media at a press conference recently.

Sugihardjo further noted that in 2014, the number of passengers was predicted to increase by 4.88 percent to 14,047,912 from 13,392,788 in 2013. Of the available modes of transportation, the acting director general pointed out that trains would see the biggest number of passengers, as many as 3.85 million, followed by air transportation with 3.72 million passengers, land transportation with 2.94 million travelers, inter-island waterway transportation services with 2.60 million, and sea transportation with 0.91 million passengers.

Moreover, Director General for Sea Transportation Affairs Bobby R. Mahamit remarked that the number of passengers using sea transportation was expected to increase by 3 percent, which is by 26,475 to 908,974 passengers as compared to 882,499 recorded in 2013.

"The increase in the number of commuters is always proportional to the average increase in population, which rises by three percent per annum," Mahamit affirmed.

Keeping in mind the increase in the number of commuters, Mahamit emphasized that his office will ensure that its sea transportation fleet functions at its peak potential with the deployment of 24 ships owned by state-owned shipping company Pelni, 84 pioneer ships, 29 roll-on roll-off ferries owned by private companies, and 70 privately-owned passenger ships.

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