REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Transportation Ministry has asked that containers must be expeditiously moved out of the country's three main seaports and the dwelling time be cut to three and a half days.

The three seaports are Belawan in Medan (North Sumatra), Makassar in South Sulawesi and Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, East Java.

At the Tanjung Priok seaport, the cargo dwelling time, the time for which the containers stay at the port, would be brought down to two and a half days, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi announced here on Wednesday.

The decision to reduce the dwelling time was reached during a meeting chaired by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

The two and a half days include 12 hours for the pre-clearance process, one day for the custom clearance process and another day for post custom clearance.

Of the three, post custom clearance is the most problematic.

He, however, mentioned in certain cases, a longer dwelling time could be allowed, such as in case of explosives that first have to be checked by the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), and bacteria-contaminated apple that should be quarantined.

To help cut the dwelling time, a seaport should operate for 24 hours, more personnel should be deployed in regions, and the licensing process should be simplified.

"We submitted these proposals to the Coordinating Minister in the meeting. The deadline will be two weeks when the presidential regulation is decided," he informed.

A white book on cargo dwelling time will be attached with the presidential regulation.

The Coordinating Minister will appoint an official to coordinate with relevant ministries and institutions regarding reducing the dwelling time.

Oza Olavia, Customs Director of the Customs and Excise Directorate General, said his office will expedite the customs process, including documentation and physical check-ups.

He promised faster pre-clearance, customs clearance and post clearance processes.

In the meantime, Admiral Harjo Susmoro, Deputy Operations Assistant of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander, said supervision at seaports will be tightened to prevent levies.

"It needs special attention and tight control. We will establish cooperation to make sure no goods pass through that could endanger our national interests," he added.

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