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A ship operates in the sea highway program that will bring logistics to eastern Indonesia. Antara / Ministry of Transportation documentation

The Directorate General of Sea Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation has ensured that the logistics delivery program through the sea highway program must continue to run in the new normal period, by applying a strategies of using a logistic communication system (LCS).

"The wheels of the economy must move and the company can continue to run its business, hence the government must be present to facilitate this," Director of Traffic and Sea Transportation Capt. Wisnu Handoko said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday.

In addition, the cargo data with LCS will be tightened so as to eliminate SOP deviations from the operation of the sea toll program.

"Therefore, the implementation of the SOP on shipping goods will be tightened by registering in accordance with the electronic identity card (e-KTP) and tax identification numbers (NPWP)," he said.

LCS developed by PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) will continue to be updated in an effort to assist and facilitate the public in accessing ship schedule information, vessel tracking position, container availability, shipping orders, manifests and shipping costs, cargo shipping statistics, up to the selling price of goods basic and important needs.

Furthermore, he explained in the cargo and ship space information, his party would facilitate the business process of ordering, shipping containers, transparency in standardizing logistics costs and disparity in prices of essential and important goods.

"In the future, it will not only eliminate physical contact, but can also stimulate healthy competition because businesses will monitor each other's prices. Businesses must upload their respective service fees," he explained.

The Ministry of Transportation hopes that the sea toll in  the  new normal can be utilized by businesses in staple goods between islands to further increase the volume of goods delivery to meet regional needs.

"We laud several regional heads who have proven their commitment to send regional production, such as Morotai, Bitung, Tahuna, and Saumlaki" Wisnu said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, special cargo ships and sea transport vessels were still permitted to operate by implementing the health protocols for handling COVID-19. (ANTARA)