REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Resources, Rizal Ramli, prepared seven-steps in cutting the waiting period of loading and unloading (dwelling time) at Tanjung Priok port. It included improving the flow of goods, improving information and technology systems, and eradicating mafia that has been playing.
"I and the team had been studying the problems that occurred at Tanjung Priok Port. The problem was quite complicated. Hopefully next week we started to solve. With the permission of Allah and our hard work, Tanjung Priok can be fixed up to become an international port that is efficient and highly competitive," he said.
Rizal said the first step is that to give easy access for export and import goods that are qualified with applicable regulations and give hard access for goods that are suspected of being problematic.
He said the ministry will establish coordination with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Ministry of Finance. "Second step is increasing the cost of fines for containers that have passed the store in the port," he said.
According to him, the penalty rate was very low, which was only Rp 27,500 per day per container sized of 20 feet. As a result, some employers preferred to 'save' the goods at the port rather than paying a warehouse outside the port which is much more expensive.
"Third steps, we will build a rail line to the location of the loading and uploading of containers. In developed countries, access to the railway was up to the port," said Rizal.
With railway access to the port, then the flow of goods will be faster and cheaper. It will also reduce the traffic jams. Although the plan will not be accepted by some people, he was determined to keep the realization of the plan.
"Because if current conditions are still allowed to continue, then Tanjung Priok will be confronted with the same problems," he added.
The fourth step is to increase the information and technology systems in the management of container terminals. Improvement of information and technology system can facilitate the businessmen, because they can easily know the position of containers accurately. Thus, the process of handling and relocation of the container can be done quickly and cheaply.
"Fifth, it is time for Tanjung Priok to add crane capacity. The amount of current crane is not sufficient," he explained.
Rizal said, sixth step, streamlined licensing requirements and regulations in the port is needed. He will establish coordination with relevant parties, such as the Ministry of Trade, PT Pelindo II, Ministry of Agriculture, Quarantine Agency, Directorate General of Customs and Excise, the Police, the Navy, and others.
"The last step, we will also combat the mafia that had been playing in the port. These people who were directly or indirectly making the port of Tanjung Priok be slow, inefficient, and costly," he said.