BITUNG – State-ownned Port Authority Pelindo IV to invest IDR70 Billion for procurement of two Container Crane (CC) units to be allocated to the Port of Bitung and Jayapura.
The company is optimistic with a more comprehensive port facilities, to create new market opportunities.
Pelindo IV Equipment Senior Manager Farid Padang Farid said, in addition to the Port of Makassar and Balikpapan, Port of Bitung and Jayapura are two important ports as part of the East Indonesian Corridor.
“The procurement utilizes internal funds. Bitung and Jayapura are the most infrastructure-ready, so we added this facility, ” he told Bisnis Saturday (03/08) .
Especially for Port of Bitung, Farid explains that Pelindo IV aims to serve 202.000 containers or 40% growth compared to 144.000 last year. Bitung deemed highly potential with strategic location as a gateway to Asian countries like China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
Pelindo IV claimed that departing from Bitung to Singapore without passing through Jakarta and Surabaya, could save 14 days. The presence of Bitung also to be an alternative to reduce traffic density of the Port of Tanjung Priok and Tanjung Perak.
At the same opportunities , the General Manager of Bitung Container Terminal, Kalbar Yanto said the addition of CC will create a new market.
So far , Maersk Line International Cargo and Mariana Express Line have expressed interest in using the Port of Bitung .
“We believe comprehensive facilites and zero waiting time will attract the market, as proven in the port of Balikpapan”, he added.
Kalbar said , Maerks Line is scheduled to be docked for the first time on April 8. The presence of Maerks Line is projected to attract a lot of other cargo companies, to stop in Bitung .
He does not deny that one of the obstacles in Bitung is the return outbound load is only 30 % of the total cargo unloaded. According to him , the government should encourage new industrial presence in North Sulawesi, making it not only a destination market, but also to export.
“Mostly South Sulawesi commodities such as tuna , coconut and nutmeg. We continue to discuss with the relevant ministries, in regards to the goods allowed to enter Bitung ,” he said.
According to him, if the KEK Bitung comes with all kinds of industries that export and import position of the Port of Bitung likely to be balanced.
In line with the projected future growth of the Port of Bitung, he said , the government budgeted to build ports extention for the length of 65 meters. It also will perform land reclamation through internal fund, around the harbor, to increase container capacity.
“This will be required as the current depth of the port is only at 8 meters,”he conclude.
