Indonesia Deploys Naval Vessel to Ease Eid Holiday Travel Demand
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The Indonesian Navy has deployed one of its warships to assist residents traveling to their hometowns for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday, as inter-island travel demand surges across the country.
Rear Admiral Yayan Sofiyan, Operations Assistant to the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff, announced that the warship KRI Semarang-594 has been assigned to operate on the Jakarta–Bangka Belitung route for this year’s Eid homecoming period.
Speaking while sending off the vessel from a Navy military dock in North Jakarta on Sunday, Rear Admiral Sofiyan said the deployment marks the first time the ship has been used to transport travelers to the Bangka Belitung Islands during the Eid holiday season.
“We usually sail to the eastern part of Java, such as Semarang and Surabaya. However, this year we sailed to Bangka Belitung following a request from the province’s governor to the Navy Chief of Staff,” Sofiyan stated.
He noted that the vessel was available to support the seasonal homecoming program, prompting the Navy to deploy it to help facilitate travel during the holiday period.
The KRI Semarang-594 will sail approximately 400 nautical miles northward from Jakarta to the Bangka and Belitung Islands. The warship will transport residents traveling home for the Eid celebration and is also expected to carry passengers returning to Jakarta after the holiday ends.
According to Sofiyan, travelers can board the warship free of charge, while the vessel will remain on standby in Bangka Belitung to assist passengers during the return travel period.
He added that the initiative is intended to ease congestion on land transportation routes and encourage residents to avoid using motorcycles for long-distance journeys, which often lead to traffic congestion and safety risks during the annual Eid homecoming.
The deployment of the warship also reflects the Indonesian Navy’s commitment to supporting public mobility and ensuring safer travel options for residents during the busy Eid al-Fitr holiday season.
