Merak Port asks for new technology

The Jakarta Post

In the wake of the Levina I inferno that killed dozens of ferry passengers off Jakarta's coast last week, Merak Port authorities in Banten have proposed to the central government that it tighten ticketing systems and equip ticketing booths with scanning devices.

Port administrator Dalle Effendi said last week the proposed system would help the port maintain accurate passenger manifests and prevent vehicles carrying inflammable and other dangerous materials from being allowed on board ferries.

"Currently, most vehicles that use our ferry services to cross the straits carry some passengers who did not buy tickets and therefore have not been registered on the passenger manifest.

"That is why we never hold an accurate number of passengers on board of each vessel," Dalle said.

Authorities at North Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port insisted that the Bangka Island-bound roll-on-roll-off vessel carried 300 passengers, despite the fact that many of the fire's victims did not appear on the ferry's passenger manifest.

Five days after the search began, 53 people have been found dead, including two police investigators and two journalists who were on board the ferry when it later sank on Feb. 25. Three-hundred passengers have been found alive.

The Indonesian Red Cross said it has received dozens of reports from relatives of ferry passengers who still remained missing after the fire.

Based on witnesses' accounts, police investigators suspect the fire started on a truck carrying cans of gasoline, which were to be sold on Bangka Island.

Dalle said the port was not able to monitor truck loads as it did not have the required scanning devices.