Celukan Bawang favorite port for skippers
Existence
of the freight stevedoring pier at Celukan Bawang Harbor, Gerokgak,
becomes a featured icon for the Northern Bali community. As a natural
and convenient harbor for skippers, this largest harbor in Buleleng has
become favorite sojourn for barges which often transport goods to
various towns in Bali.The Head of Buleleng Development Planning Board (Bappeda), Gede Suyasa, said that designation of Celukan Bawang Harbor was very appropriate for barges and cruise ships to anchor in Bali. It was enabled because the construction of Celukan Bawang Harbor was natural without too big ocean waves. “According to provincial Spatial Plan, it should become the center of all stevedoring activities in Bali. Based on the experience of skippers, Celukan Bawang Harbor is the most convenient harbor for cruise ship to berth. As a natural harbor, the waves are not high and surrounding condition is very good as well,” he said, Monday (Jan 5).
When the freight was unloaded at Celukan Bawang Harbor, the condition of road construction would become a constraint for trucks transporting the freight. “Regent of Buleleng has often delivered the issue to provincial government if the Celukan Bawang Harbor is indeed used as stevedoring harbor it must be focused on stevedoring activity. However, there was complaint of employers where if the freight is unloaded in Buleleng, when it is transported to southern Bali, the road access is even not good as it can kindle congestion at Gitgit,” he said.
Cooperation between Bali and Buleleng government to maximize the role of Celukan Bawang Harbor remained to be done as well as in the matter of road access posing the main supporting infrastructure for smooth distribution of freight. “When freight is just unloaded at the harbor, there should be an access to distribute the freight. Unlike when stevedoring activities are done at Benoa Harbor Denpasar, the access of distribution can be smoother. Thus, the road access becomes a very important part,” said Suyasa.
Meanwhile, according to Dewa Gede Adi Kumarajaya, General Manager of PT Pelindo III of Celukan Bawang Branch, if the Benoa Harbor was merely intended for tourism vessel, the entire container ships would be directed to Celukan Bawang as set forth in the master plan of Celukan Bawang Harbor. “The role of Celukan Bawang Harbor will be developed in the future into a cargo harbor. It will depend on the status of Benoa Harbor whether it has become a special tourism harbor. As a result, cargo ships will certainly be directed to the North,” he said.
Stevedoring activities at Celukan Bawang covered the commodities such as iron, timber and cement, including the locally made cement of Indonesia to Vietnam. Distribution of cement was mostly sent to Denpasar. Furthermore, the Bali provincial government plan related to the development of Soka – Seririt Toll Road as road infrastructure was expected to facilitate the distribution access from North Bali to South Bali. “Hopefully, the distribution of freight in the future can become more fluent,” he added.www.bali-travelnews.com
