Global energy crisis jacks up international ferry fares in Batam
The Straits Times
Four operators serving the Batam-Singapore route announced a $6 surcharge for one-way tickets to Batam. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BATAM, Riau Islands – Geopolitical tensions in West Asia following the unprovoked attacks against Iran by the US and Israel triggered a spike in the world’s crude oil prices, directly impacting the regional sea transport sector.
The ferry fares for international routes from Batam, Riau Islands, to and from Malaysia and Singapore have significantly increased to offset mounting fuel costs.
Observation at Batam Center International Port on March 13 showed normal crossing activities despite increasing fares since March 12 by all ferry operators serving the route to Singapore.
“Ferry fares have increased since yesterday (March 12) due to fuel operational costs,” said a booth attendant for one of the ferry operators, Majestic Fast Ferry, in Batam Center International Port.
Four operators serving the Batam-Singapore route – BatamFast, Horizon, Majestic and Sindo Ferry – issued an announcement about the fuel surcharge on March 11.
For passengers departing from Singapore, the one-way surcharge is S$6. For those departing from the Indonesian cities of Batam, Tanjung Pinang and Tanjung Balai, the surcharge is 65,000 rupiah (S$4.90).
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