DILI, 31 march 2023 (TATOLI)- The government of Timor-Leste has recently completed a feasibility study planning to build a shipyard, aiming to reduce the ship repairs budget overseas.
To reach this plan, Country Prime Minister (PM), Taur Matan Ruak held a meeting with the three members of the Minister of Transport and Communications (MoTC), José Agostinho, Minister of Defense (MoD), Filomeno Paixão and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, António Armindo to discuss investment plan in build a large shipyard in Timor-Leste.
“Currently the government has completed a feasibility study for the construction of shipyards in Karavela (Baucau) and Tibar (Liquiça) and has sent it to the National Procurement Commission (NPC) to start the tender,” said José Agostinho at the Government Office, this friday
Lucas explained, although the government plans to build in the two selected places, the rest will be adjusted according to the results of the existing feasibility study from the company that will support the government build these shipyards.
Timor-Leste has no exact number of ships, but as a country that has a large maritime area, the need for ships is divided into four parts, starting from commercial vessels, health services, fisheries, and defense and private vessels owned by the community.
“We have a lot of ships and so far we are in the process of repairing them abroad, but if it continues like this, a larger budget is spent on it. We have to build a shipyard to increase state revenue,” he added.
Timor-Leste Costum Authority (APORTIL) itself currently manages two commercial ships such as the Berlin Nakroma and Berlin Ramelau which have to carry out repairs abroad every year and use the state budget.
He also asked the government to make a development plan for ship docks so that later other ships such as the Berlin Ramelau also don’t have to carry out maintenance in Indonesia considering that it takes a long time and is more expensive.
So far, the ship repair process for the two ships has been carried out in Surabaya (Indonesia) with a time frame of up to three months and costs from $ 380,000 to $ 600,000.
A shipyard is a place designed to repair and build ships. These ships can be cruise ships/yachts, military fleets, cruise lines, cargo, or passenger planes.
A large shipyard site will contain multiple cranes, dry docks, slipways, dust-free warehouses, painting facilities, and a large area for the fabrication of the ships.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
