Kalibaru Port, also called New Priok Port, in North Jakarta, Indonesia, is being prepared to undergo a trial run, as the government wants the port to begin operating by August 2016.
Acting president director Dede Martin of port operator PT Pelindo II said Container Terminal 1 is being scheduled for an initial test run as the Transportation Ministry has ordered an acceleration of the port’s opening.
The ministry wants the port to become operational immediately, so we are evaluating the port’s preparedness, Dede said.
He said his team has made thorough preparations for the test run, including checking the functioning of the terminal’s information technology system.
Dede said five container terminals are planned for construction at Kalibaru port.
Trial operations at the first terminal will be carried out using a box ship of 14,000 gross tons, which will unload 50 containers.
When fully operating, Container Terminal 1 is expected to be able to serve ocean vessels with a capacity of 13,000 TEUs or a deadweight tonnage of above 150,000.
This terminal has a quay length of 850 meters, a ground surface area of 32 hectares, an accommodating capacity of 1.5 million TEUs a year, and an eight-unit-facility crane equipment.
The Kalibaru port is being built to expand the capacity of Tanjung Priok Port, the country’s main maritime gateway. Originally scheduled to begin operating last year, it is seen by the shipping community as a first step toward adding port capacity and encouraging international carriers to offer direct mainline services to the country.
