REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The number of ships joining "Nusantara Jaya" Expedition (ENJ) will be double next year if this year's expedition is successful, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyono Soesilo has said.

"If this year is successful, next year we will double the number of ships to 170 ships that will sail to western as well as eastern parts of Indonesia," Minister Soesilo said recently when visiting Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara to greet the ENJ 2015's 283 members, mostly students, who sailed by Naval warship KRI Banda Aceh at Teanu seaport.

The ministry has deployed 88 Indonesian Naval ships in the expedition organized in cooperation with the Navy.

KRI Banda Aceh had sailed for 19 days to distribute logistics to coastal villagers in several provinces. They started from Jakarta on June 1, 2015 and sailed among other things to Makassar (South Sulawesi), Sorong (West Papua), Saumlaki (West Southeast Maluku), and ended in Tenau seaport, Kupang.

As many as 4,000 people participate in the expedition by boarding vessel KRI 593-Banda Aceh, 86 pacer ships and two hospital ships, "Doctor Share."

KRI 593-Banda Aceh functions as the mother ship and sail the Jakarta-Makassar-Sorong-Saumlaki-Jakarta route. The pacer ships load volunteers and aid from ports to the destination areas.

During the expedition, several goods have been distributed, such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, school stationary, seeds, Holy Books, clean water, power generators, solar cells, television sets and satellite dishes.

The expedition involve 250 volunteers and journalists attending training in maritime affairs and leadership during the journey.

Furthermore, the 30-day program commencing on June 1 includes halts at as many as 540 ports in 22 provinces.

Several institutions support the program, including the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Indonesian Navy, the Ministry of Transportation, and non-governmental organizations.

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