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North Sumatra’s Sibolga Port expansion completed
Sibolga Port, located on the west coast of North Sumatra, is set to see an increase in activity following the completion of a three-year renovation by state-owned port operator Pelindo I
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span>Sibolga Port, located on the west coast of North Sumatra, is set to see an increase in activity following the completion of a three-year renovation by state-owned port operator Pelindo I.
The face-lift includes the construction a new multi-purpose dock spanning 153 meters and a container yard. The docks and dolphins have also been revamped, while a fixed crane has been installed to go with a reorganization of the passenger terminal and a 400-square-meter expansion of the ferry dock.
“The expansion of the port has been completed and we are planning to launch it this year,” Pelindo I SVP corporate secretary M. Eriansyah said recently.
As a collector port, Sibolga Port’s new multi-purpose dock will provide a 296-m wide berth for the mooring of up to four vessels at a time to facilitate the unloading and loading of cargo and people.
The container yard, spanning 6,000 sqm, has a capacity of 20,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year.
“To improve and accelerate the unloading and loading of goods, Sibolga Port will also be supported by a fixed crane,” Eriansyah said.
He added that the port’s upgrade would help reduce logistic costs as the port had seen an increase in the traffic of goods.
Eriansyah said the port had performed better last year with 7,105 TEUs recorded in 2018 compared to 6,739 TEUs in 2017. The port also saw a 34.8 percent increase in passengers to 73,085 people in 2018 from 54,215 people in 2017.
“We are optimistic Sibolga Port will perform even better in the future so it can bring multiplier effects for the country’s economy and improve the prosperity of the western region of Indonesia, especially North Sumatra,” Eriansyah said.
The port’s expansion is part of the central government’s efforts to develop regions outside Java by boosting infrastructure, with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo previously emphasizing the importance of ports given the fact two-thirds of Indonesia’s territory is water.
Sibolga Port connects with Gunung Sitoli Port on Nias Island, allowing people to commute and goods to be transported between the Sumatran mainland and the neighboring island.
Pelindo I Sibolga Office general manager Agust Deritanto previously said the expansion of Sibolga Port was also expected to boost domestic tourism, especially in Sibolga municipality and Tapanuli Tengah regency.
Ahmad Yais Limbong of Sibolga-based wood manufacturing company PT Mujur Timber said the expansion of the port would have positive impacts not only for passengers but also for companies, as the fixed crane would ease the unloading and loading of goods for export and import.
“As a user of the port, I appreciate Sibolga Port’s development. I can directly feel the positive impacts,” he said.
Sibolga Port is one of the three ports in North Sumatra alongside Belawan Port in the province’s capital city Medan as well as Kuala Tanjung Port in Batubara regency, both of which are located on the east coast of the province. (ars)
