DILI, 19 november 2021 (TATOLI) – Arsenio Paixão Bano, the President of the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA) informed Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak that RAEOA will purchase a new passenger ferry to facilitate the movement of passengers between Dili, Oe-Cusse, and Atauro Island.
Bano said that the passenger ferry would be purchased by a local company based in RAEOA called ‘Irmão Timor.
“I can assure you that before Christmas, RAEOA will have a new passenger’s ferry. It will facilitate the transportation and movement of the passengers between OeCusse, Dili, and Atauro,” Bano told reporters after having a meeting with Prime Minister Ruak at the Palace of the Government, in Dili, on Friday.
He said it is the Success Ferry that RAEOA will be purchased by RAEOA, adding some improvements would be made to improve the condition of the ferry before its operation.
“So, the machine of the Success Ferry will be fixed before launching its operation,” Bano said.
Rehabilitation of Haksolok Ferry to take place in 2022
Bano also informed that the rehabilitation of the Haksolok Ferry will take place in 2021 as the ferry is currently under the control of RAEOA.
“Now, about 95 percent of the Haksolok Ferry is under RAEOA’s control. Next year we will have the rehabilitation of the ferry. Prime Minister Ruak also informed that Timor-Leste is better to have its dockyard to maintenance our ships in the future,” Bano said.
Bano said RAEOA has recruited a manager to manage the rehabilitation process of the Haksolok ferry in Portugal.
“The budget for the rehabilitation came from RAEOA’s 2021 General State Budget (GSB),” said Bano.
The ferry can carry 377 people and 25 cars to connect Dili to Ataúro Island and the Oecusse Ambeno enclave in Timor-Leste.
The process of acquiring the ship began in 2014 by the Timorese Central Government, Administrative Office of Oecusse-Ambeno (RAEOA).
Under the previous contract with Portugal’s Atlantic Eagle Shipbuilding Company, Timor-Leste has spent around US$13 million, but the construction was halted due to the bankruptcy of the company.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
