JAYAPURA - In March 2023, the number of passengers departing using domestic sea transportation was recorded at 11,624 people, an increase of 16.43 percent compared to February 2023 which was 9,984 people.

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Papua Province, there were 10,041 passengers departing through the port of Jayapura and 1,583 people from Merauke Port.

"Thus, the cumulative number of embarkations of sea transport passengers during January-March 2023 reached 37,703 people, an increase of 55.98 percent when compared to the same period in 2022 was 24,172 people," explained Head of the Papua Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Adriana Carolina Helena in Jayapura, Wednesday.

According to Adriana, the pace of development in the number of sea and air transportation passengers in Papua during March 2023 showed a slowdown from the previous month.

It affects the volume of goods loaded in March 2023 at 18,163 tons, a decrease of 12.50 percent compared to the previous month of 20,757 tons.

"For Jayapura Port, the loading volume of goods in March 2023 was recorded at 13,969 tons, an increase of 14.50 percent compared to February 2023 of 12,200 tons, while the loading volume of goods at Merauke Port was 4,194 tons, a decrease of 50.99 percent compared to February 2023 of 8,557 tons."

"Cumulatively, the volume of goods loaded in January-March 2023 at the two ports amounted to 53,547 tons, an increase of 9.27 percent compared to January-March 2022 which amounted to 59,021 tons," she concluded. ***