JAKARTA - PT Pelita Samudera Shipping Tbk (PSSI) targets cargo volumes of around 1.8 - 2.2 million metric tons in 2019 for its mother ship fleet. The target will depend on market conditions and the ability to increase the number of fleets.
The addition of bulk carriers is in line with the company's strategy to explore various logistics opportunities in the domestic market including energy, mining, agriculture, and building materials.
For information, at the beginning of the year, the company has purchased a mother vessel, "Dewi Ambarwati". The US$ 9.7 million-vessel is a handysize class ship that is part of the company's expansion program, in line with the increase in Indonesia's logistics needs for the energy sector.
With a capacity of 32,000 deadweights (dwt), "Dewi Ambarwati" is the company's second handysize vessel and has been leased for coal shipping in Bunati, South Kalimantan, starting from the first week of January 2019. With the addition of this new MV, PSS currently has a total fleet of 80 units, consisting of 38 tugboats, 37 barges, 3 floating cargo facilities (FLF) and 2 handysize MV compared to 77 units owned in early 2018.
For information, Pelita Samudera allocated capital expenditure (capex) of US$ 50 million for 2019, up from the previous year's capex of US$ 21 million. This year's capex will be focused on purchasing tugboats, barges and aircraft carriers, which will be funded from a combination of external and internal financing, depending on market developments and conditions. (LM)