T

he Thousand Islands regency administration is mulling over a plan to develop a new port in the Bahtera Jaya area in East Ancol, North Jakarta, which is expected to take over the functions of the Muara Angke Marina in Penjaringan.

The planned port is expected to become the official main hub for passengers ships plying routes between the mainland and the Thousand Islands regency.

Acting Thousand Islands regent Budi Utomo confirmed that his administration had embarked on the plan, saying that there was a need for a more '€œrepresentative'€ site to build a new port.

'€œWe are trying to accommodate the interests of many related parties. For sure, we are considering many aspects, including the needs of Thousand Islands'€™ residents,'€ he said recently.

Aside from serving the interests of locals, Budi said, the planned port in the Bahtera Jaya area was expected to boost tourism to the Thousand Islands regency.

'€œWe should also consider that currently, the number of tourist arrivals in the Thousand Islands keeps on increasing,'€ he said, adding that as such, an '€œadequate'€ port was necessary.

The number of tourists visiting the islands in 2013 stood at 1.5 million, up from around 230,000 recorded in 2010, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

The Thousand Islands, which became a regency in 2006, comprise 110 islets with a total land area of 8.7 square kilometers and a total population of over 20,000.

Budi confirmed that the planned port was expected to ease the burden on the Muara Angke Marina in Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

The 3.4-hectare marina, which opened in January 2012 after six years of construction, is currently rife with fishery activities.

'€œThe port in Muara Angke is actually a main hub for fishing vessels. Thus, it is indeed not a transit stop for passengers ships,'€ he said, adding that for the time being, however, the port also serves passengers due to a lack of proper sites for such purposes.

'€œThis is a new plan. I don'€™t know the exact details yet and can'€™t give an illustration,'€ he said.

'€œWe will discuss it with a wide range of communities, including locals, ship owners and passengers, as well as tourists,'€ he told The Jakarta Post.

However, the proposal for the port development will likely hit a snag, with residents of the Thousand Islands regency having expressed objections to the plan.

During a recent meeting with Budi to discuss the planned port, Mohammad Yusuf, a local figure from Panggang Island, Thousand Islands, said residents deemed that it was not effective due to its remoteness.

'€œThe Bahtera Jaya area is far from many places, especially the market. It will likely be backbreaking for Thousand Islands residents if they want to buy staple foods and goods for their businesses,'€ he said recently.

The Bahtera Jaya area, situated in Pademangan, is currently a center for water sports, including sailing, windsurfing and kayaking, which is managed under the Youth and Sports Agency of the city administration.

The center, located in the northernmost part of Jakarta, is one of 12 coastal tourist destinations the North Jakarta administration officially designated in July 2009. They include, among others, the popular Ancol Dreamland Park.

Representing residents of the islands, Yusuf said that instead of proceeding with the plan, it would be better for the regency administration to make improvements to Kali Adem Port in Muara Angke.

Responding to the residents'€™ complaints, Budi said that his administration would take all of their aspirations into serious consideration.

'€œWe will listen as long as what they have to say is rational,'€ he said as quoted by beritajakarta.com, adding that he would convey the residents'€™ messages to the city administration. (alm)