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Illustration of ship carrying goods containers docks at Container Terminal Port of Panjang, Lampung. (ANTARA/Agus Wira Sukarta/am/sw)

Indonesia Port Corporation (IPC) is currently preparing a scenario to better navigate through the new normal in terms of the work and operational environment at ports nationwide amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"This new normal scenario is a follow-up measure to the health protocols been implemented in IPC's work and operational environments," Arif Suhartono, the IPC president, noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

"The precautionary measures to contain coronavirus transmissions among people at ports will serve as a reference for our new operational standards," he pointed out.

As the pandemic began, the State-Owned Enterprise too responded swiftly by applying some additional procedures for ensuring the health and safety of all its employees and related stakeholders.

Wearing masks and hand gloves has been incorporated in the regular requirement for wearing personal protective equipment, as this measure is deemed necessary to ensure unhindered port services despite the outbreak.

"Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, all employees, including laborers involved in loading and unloading activities, are required to wear standard protective equipment, including helmets, vests, and special footwear (while working)," Suhartono noted.

Furthermore, during the outbreak, the IPC has implemented health protocols in the form of maintaining social and physical distancing, providing healthcare services, conducting body temperature checks, sanitizing workplaces, and applying new procedure for guest visits and official trips.

"To ensure that our operational process continues to run, the IPC readies deployment rules for enactment at all ports. Thus, all inbound and outbound shipments will not be affected by the community restrictions," Suhartono remarked. (ANTARA)