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ead of Pontianak Seaport Authority (KSOP), Gunung Hutapea, has called on sea and river transportation owners to equip their ships with passenger safety equipment, giving them a June 24 deadline.

Gunung said his office would examine the safety equipment on all the ships, including cargo and passenger vessels.

No sailing license is to be issued if a vessel has yet to be fitted with all required equipment, he said, “In principle, it is better not to depart than not to survive,” said Gunung, underlining the importance of safety equipment.

He also said that six additional ships would operate to serve the growing number of passengers during this year’s massive Idul Fitri home-bound exodus, including Pelni ships KM Lawit and Bukit Raya and four ships belonging to the private sector.

Head of the Pontianak office of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Slamet Riyadi, said that his side was ready to help monitor and secure this year’s Idul Fitri exodus traffic.

“We will prepare 90 percent of our human resources, ensuring their availability if and when needed,” Slamet said as quoted by Antara on Saturday.

He added that his office had prepared to monitor and secure Idul Fitri traffic, explaining that its members had been monitoring water transportation routes in West Kalimantan.

“We will also deploy SAR members to tourist areas such as Pasir Panjang,” he said.