Logistics business players in West Java appreciate the operation scheme of Patimban Port. The port operation will be fully control by private sector following the handover of the port asset management by the Ministry of Transportation to a private company PT Pelabuhan Patimban Internasional (PPI).
Chairman of Indonesia Logistics and Forwarders’ Association (ILFA/ALFI) for West Java Chapter M Nuh Nasution said that this operation scheme is expected to be more optimal in boosting economic growth and reducing national logistics costs.
“President Joko Widodo’s government is currently focusing on efforts to make national logistics costs more efficient, thus making national commodities more competitive in global market. Therefore, all stakeholders must support this government’s efforts,” he said in press statement today, Friday, 17 December 2021.
M.Nuh emphasized that ALFI West Java appreciates the Patimban port which is now operated by the private sector. He said, private involvement in port operation is needed in building professional port competition.
“Competitiveness is now needed for our national industry. That’s why we strongly agree that Patimban is operated by a pure private sector, rather than a state-owned company. This is for reducing our logistics costs,” he said.
Vice Chairman of ALFI Headquarter Trismawan Sanjaya echoes the view. He said, in general the Patimban port infrastructure is good, but calling for better access road to the port. A direct access is needed in view of high traffic at North Java Road (Pantura), as at this time, Patimban can only be accessed from Pantura.
“Patimban’s hinterlands are in West Java and its surroundings. These hinterlands are also the leading contributors to Tanjung Priok Port. The point is that, in the future, collaboration is needed as there will be behaviour shift in logistics activities as some of the cargoes will be move from Priok to Patimban. This is not as simple as we think,” said Trismawan.
Patimban will be one of Indonesia’s gateway and one of the National Strategic Projects. According to the master plan, this port is dedicated for car terminal and container terminal.
The port has started to serve oceangoing shipment. Today, Friday, 17 December 2021, it handled initial export of 1,209 vehicles to the Philippines, using MV Ship Fujitrans, a Liberian flag vessel with capacity of 27,286 Gross Tons (GT). This ship has docked at Patimban since Thursday (16/12) at 10.00 WIB. The ship was carrying as many as 84 units of imported vehicles from Japan. It is planned that the ship will depart on Friday night at 20.00 WIB.
Previously, the Ministry of Transportation officially handed over the operation of the Car Terminal to PT. Patimban International Port (PPI), after being temporarily operated by the Ministry of Transportation through an assignment to PT Pelindo.
The handover was marked by the signing of the Agreement on the Utilization of State Property Through the Infrastructure Provision Cooperation (KSPI) for the Patimban Port PPP Project.
The signing was carried out by the Acting Director General of Sea Transportation Arif Toha with the President Director of PT Pelabuhan Patimban International.
The handover of these assets is a follow-up to the Government Cooperation Agreement with the Patimban Port Business Entity (KPBU) – between the Ministry of Transportation with PT. Pelabuhan Patimban Internasional which was signed in March 2021.