Tuesday, 30 July 2013

GOVERNMENT WAS ASKED TO FIX PORT INFRASTRUCTURE



Some business operators complained about the increase in the flow of goods, both domestically and overseas, which reached 20%, but it is not supported by adequate infrastructure at Tanjung Priok port. Dwelling time occurs due to several factors, one of the most dominant is the unpreparedness of Tanjung Priok port in anticipating the flow of goods. In the last three years, flow of goods in Tanjung Priok port increased, but the infrastructure at the port was stagnant.
               
Chairman of Indonesia Logistics and Forwarders Association (ALFI), Iskandar Zulkarnaen, in Jakarta (Monday, July 22), believed that what is asked by the Coordinating Minister of Economy is so that dwelling time can be reduced to three days, was not seriously implemented by PT Pelindo II, port Authority, or other related port officials. He asserted that in such a condition, the one who suffers from loss is business operators, including goods owners, shipping companies, logistics and inland transportation operators.
               
And, the one who makes profit automatically is Pelindo II, because the longer a container dwells at the port, the tariff is progressive and it is increasingly expensive and it contributes to net profit, without any investment. “We ask the government to immediately improve port infrastructure, as it triggers high-cost economy”, Iskandar said.
               
Iskandar asked the port authorities to be firm in carrying out duties as a government representative at the port. Quarantine will also be empowered by the state, give them opportunity to reformulate its role to be able respond to the demands of the times. He saw that if all already in balance, the problem of dwelling time will be settled. But, he reminded that the situation in other ports is also the same. He gave an example to ship queue at Panjang Port, Lampung which is very high, even reaching 20 ships, as well as at Teluk Bayur port, Jambi, Palembang, Surabaya, Medan, and Makassar. All of the major ports are still problematic, and the greatest problem lies in Tanjung Priok port.
               
Starting September 2013, ship and freight service systems and procedures between islands/domestically is with an electronic single services or Inaportnet in four major ports in Indonesia by involving the relevant agencies. Vice Minister of Transportation, Bambang Susantono, said that previously the inaportnet system is only intended or ships and goods service procedure for international routes or export import. In the early stages, he said, the system is already tested at Tanjung Priok port, Jakarta, and will soon be implemented at Makassar port, Belawan port (Medan), and Tanjung Perak port (Surabaya).
               
He said that the flow of goods unloaded by domestic vessels at Tanjung Priok port annually is high enough, with an almost equal ratio to export and import cargo volume served at the port. To expedite traffic of goods at Tanjung Priok pork, he considered that the domestic route also needs to be arranged by inaportnet system so that the domestic ship services will be more organized.
               
Bambang said that the system will be applied nationwide and the testing stage is currently applied at Tanjung Priok port. He targeted that in September this year, the inaportnet system for domestic ships can be implemented in four ports, including Tanjung Priok port. He said that the implementation of the inaportnet system for domestic ship service at Tanjung Priok port has been strengthened by Decision of the Directorate of Transportation No. 008/419/DJPL-13 dated June 24,2013 on the Testing of Inaportnet Service System for Domestic Ships at Tanjung Priok Port. “Administrators and users of the inaportnet system for domestic ship services were obliged to provide security through management and operations under the control of the port authority”, he stated. (E)



Business News - July 24,2013

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