Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. State-owned shipping company PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni) has requested permission from the Ministry of Transportation to carry up to 150% of the standard ship capacity to better meet the high demand for sea travel.

Tri Andayani, the President Director of Pelni, said on Friday (2/8/2024)  that the demand for sea transport has surged as public mobility recovers post-pandemic. 

Before COVID-19, Pelni served around 5.4 million passengers annually. In 2023, this figure was 5.3 million, with 2.6 million passengers recorded in the first half of 2024 alone. By year-end, Pelni expects to reach up to 5.5 million passengers, according to antaranews.com.

Pelni operates 32 vessels, including passenger ships with capacities ranging from 500 to 3,000 people, and an additional 50 ships for various other services. With the upcoming holiday season, Pelni anticipates a further increase in passenger numbers and seeks to adjust capacity limits accordingly.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)