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Minister calls for safety for small boats serving Jakarta's resort islands
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A picturesque view of the Thousand Islands regency. (Shutterstock/File)
T
ransportation Minister Budi Karya has instructed state-owned ship operator PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni) and state-owned ferry operator PT ASDP to supervise small boats owned by individuals offering services to tourists traveling to Thousand Islands regency.
Although Pelni and ASDP operate larger ships for tourists on a consistent basis, the government will continue to allow small boats to continue their businesses under more stringently enforced safety measures, the minister said.
“We assigned PT Pelni and state-owned ferry operator PT ASDP to see that ojek kapal (boat services) abide by the safety standards,” said Budi at Sunda Kelapa Port in North Jakarta on Tuesday.
(Read also: New Year's Eve cruise trip to Thousand Islands sold out)
He said the two state-owned companies would educate boat owners on safety to make sure that the accident like the one that happened to KM Zahro Express would never happen again.
KM Zahro Express caught fire on its way to Thousand Islands on Jan. 1, killing 22 people.
“It is the task of Pelni and ASDP to supervise them so that they can continue their businesses,” the minister said. (bbn)
