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Transportation Ministry seeks expanded role in ferry operations
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People flock to Tigaras Port in Simalungun, North Sumatra, after a vessel carrying around 80 passengers capsized on Lake Toba, North Sumatra, on June 18. (Via pekanbaru.tribunnews.com/Istimewa)
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s a result of recent deadly ferry accidents, the Transportation Ministry is looking to expand its role in monitoring ferry operations, which are currently under the supervision of regional administrations.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that not all authorities in regional administrations carried out their monitoring duties effectively.
“We have to improve the monitoring [of passenger vessels], which falls under the authority of governors and regents as part of the regional autonomy program,” Budi said in Medan on Thursday as reported by kompas.com.
“Therefore, we will propose that the central government be involved in supervisory jobs with the main objective to improve safety on ships.”
Budi’s statement was made in response to two deadly ferry accidents – one in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, and one in Selayar Islands, South Sulawesi – that killed over 100 passengers.
He underlined the importance of addressing two issues.
First, he called on supervision at seaports to be carried out properly to ensure that all shipping requirements, including those pertaining to passenger manifest, are fulfilled prior to a ship's departure.
Second, ships needed to meet safety standards and have up-to-date seaworthy documents, Budi said, adding that he agreed with a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT) about the need to evaluate the conditions of ships.
Budi said he would coordinate with the Home Ministry and the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry to discuss expanding the central government's role. (bbn)
