Ferry fares to rise almost 5% on Jan. 1

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government will increase interprovincial ferry fares by an average of 4.46 percent starting Jan. 1 next year, a transportation ministry official says.

"We've decided to increase the fares as the current fares barely cover actual costs," head of the Communications Center at the Transportation Ministry, Bambang S. Ervan, was quoted as saying Saturday by Antara.

According to Bambang, the new fares for the 18 ferry routes were stipulated in a ministry regulation, with the smallest increase being on the Balikpapan-Taipa route (0.24 percent), and the biggest on the Gorontalo-Wakai route (18.13 percent).

Among the routes affected are Ketapang-Gilimanuk, where the fare will increase by 10.94 percent from Rp 640 to Rp 710; Merak-Bakauhuni (11.03 percent from Rp 453 to Rp 503); and Padangbai-Lembar (10.42 percent from Rp 568 to Rp 627).

Bambang said it was hoped that the new fares would encourage ferry operators to maintain or even improve their services, as well as pay more attention to the safety of passengers.

Also, starting next year, insurance premiums will also be increased from Rp 440 per passenger to Rp 770.

"This means the compensation for death in an accident while using a ferry will rise significantly to Rp 50 million (around US$5,400) from the current Rp 30 million," Bambang said. (ndr)