Gorontalo (ANTARA) - The Gorontalo Province will have a new ship serving the sea toll at Gorontalo seaport, Head of the Gorontalo Provincial Transportation Office Jamal Nganro stated on Tuesday.
According to Nganro, the ship "KM Sabuk Nusantara 76" will undertake round trips for shipping from Gorontalo to Ternate, North Maluku.
The ship will sail starting from Gorontalo City (Port of Gorontalo) to Luwuk (Central Sulawesi) and then to Banggai (Central Sulawesi), Bacan (North Maluku), and finally to Ternate (North Maluku) and return back on the same route.
"This ship can accommodate approximately 400 people, and the rate is very cheap, only Rp89 thousand to Ternate," he stated in Gorontalo.
The ship's facilities include bedrooms of economy class, second class, and first class that provide air conditioning, and passengers can load their belongings.
Gorontalo Governor Rusli Habibie will inaugurate the operation of KM Sabuk Nusantara 76 on November 5, 2021, at Gorontalo City's seaport.
"When I was told that the ship had arrived, I immediately requested that this information be disseminated via radio and social media to explain the benefits of sea toll ships," Governor Habibie remarked.
Habibie is keen that the public quickly receive information on the schedule of ship departures and the fares, as sea transportation to Ternate is direly required.
Moreover, he called the operation of KM Sabuk Nusantara 76 as a form of the central government's attention to people in Sulawesi, especially those of Gorontalo Province.
According to Habibie, the sea toll, which is one of President Joko Widodo's programs, becomes a supporting link for people and goods to be transported between islands.
"If this ship is based in the Port of Gorontalo City, then automatically all the ship's necessity will be purchased here. Another advantage is Gorontalo becomes a liaison between the regions in Sulawesi and Maluku," he explained.
Habibie also noted that the facilities of sea toll and ships can boost the economy in Gorontalo.
Related news: Innovation, collaboration vital for greater sea toll program
Related news: Four piers to be built for Bangka Belitung inter-island access
Related news: Official confirms six NTT ports in new sea toll route
