As the annual Lebaran exodus approaches, mobility on the vital Bali–Java ferry route continues to surge. In response, PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero), in close collaboration with the Police and other key stakeholders, has implemented a series of operational adjustments. These measures are designed to accelerate vehicle movement and efficiently manage growing queues leading to Gilimanuk Port.
ASDP’s President Director, Heru Widodo, emphasized the ongoing efforts on the ground to maintain a smooth flow of vehicles towards the port. “We are continuously implementing various operational acceleration measures with our stakeholders,” Heru stated. “These range from traffic management in the queuing lanes to optimizing ferry services, all to ensure vehicle flow remains steady and queues can be resolved promptly.”
Field observations on March 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM WITA (Central Indonesia Time), showed that the Police have initiated a one-way traffic pattern extending approximately 4.5 kilometers to expedite vehicle progression to the port. Furthermore, smaller vehicles are being diverted to a designated Cargo Buffer Zone, effectively easing congestion on the primary route to Gilimanuk Port.
From the perspective of ferry operations, ASDP is employing an intensified operational scheme, deploying 35 vessels on the busy Ketapang–Gilimanuk route. The Arrive-Unload-Depart (TBB) scheme remains in effect at MB1, MB4, and LCM docks. This efficient system allows arriving vessels to immediately begin unloading cargo and depart for their next trip without waiting to load new vehicles, significantly streamlining the turnaround process.
Intensive Inter-Agency Coordination
Previously, Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi affirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to optimizing operational steps aimed at alleviating vehicle congestion at Gilimanuk Port. This is achieved through intensive coordination involving BPTD Bali, the Police, ferry operators, port authorities, security forces, and local governments.
“The Ministry of Transportation is dedicated to ensuring that transportation services operate safely, smoothly, and under control, while also pushing for rapid operational measures on the ground to promptly resolve vehicle and passenger congestion,” Minister Dudy announced in Jakarta on Monday, March 16.
He further added that the Vice Minister of Transportation and the Director General of Land Transportation have been assigned to directly monitor the operational conditions at Gilimanuk Port, underscoring the high-level attention given to the situation.
Bali-Java Ferry Passengers See 33.8 Percent Increase
Meanwhile, data from the Lebaran Transport Command Post reveals a significant surge in ferry traffic from Bali to Java on H-6 (six days before Lebaran). The total number of passengers reached 80,416 individuals, marking a substantial 33.8% increase compared to 60,099 passengers recorded during the same period last year.
The volume of two-wheeled vehicles also saw a considerable rise, totaling 18,306 units, up 52.7% from 11,987 units last year. Four-wheeled vehicles reached 5,044 units, an increase of 9.2% from 4,620 units in the previous year.
Bus traffic was recorded at 945 units, showing a 39% increase from 680 units last year. Conversely, truck numbers experienced a slight decrease, with 1,590 units crossing, down 13.4% from 1,835 units in the corresponding period last year.
Overall, the total number of vehicles crossing from Bali to Java on H-6 reached 25,885 units, representing a 35.4% increase compared to 19,122 units during the same period last year.
The latest monitoring at 2:00 PM WITA indicated that the vehicle queue extended approximately 15 kilometers. However, the queue has shown signs of reduction, appearing more fragmented due to effective traffic management and the continuous flow of vehicles into the port area.
Arief Eko, General Manager of ASDP’s Ketapang Branch, reiterated ASDP’s unwavering commitment to enhancing service capacity and accelerating the ferry process to resolve vehicle queues more rapidly. “ASDP is dedicated to optimizing vessel and dock operations to ensure maximum absorption of vehicle traffic,” Arief affirmed. “We also urge service users to follow the directions of on-site officers for everyone’s smooth journey.”
Summary
PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero), in collaboration