ASDP Deploys 24 Ferries to Ease Ketapang–Gilimanuk Queues

Banyuwangi — PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry deployed 24 vessels on the Ketapang–Gilimanuk crossing on Friday, 18 September 2026, in an effort to clear long vehicle queues that had built up on the approach roads to the Java–Bali route. The operation focused on increasing ferry productivity and reducing congestion gradually, rather than promising an immediate end to the backlog, according to ASDP officials quoted in local media.

The 24-ship fleet comprised 22 regular ferries and two large support vessels, KMP Jatra I and KMP Portlink VII. ASDP’s Corporate Secretary Windy Andale said the company was optimising its armada to move more vehicles across the strait while maintaining navigational safety as the primary consideration. She explained that operating patterns were being adjusted dynamically based on weather, sea conditions, currents, tides, vessel readiness and dock capacity.

How the 24-vessel deployment was arranged

Local reports state that the 24 vessels were distributed across the available docks at Ketapang to keep loading, unloading and departures continuous. The arrangement was as follows:

• MB 1: five regular vessels
• MB 3: five regular vessels
• MB 4: three regular vessels and the two support vessels KMP Jatra I and KMP Portlink VII
• LCM: nine regular vessels

ASDP’s Ketapang Branch General Manager, Media Syahrianto, said the company was using favourable weather and sea conditions to maintain the rhythm of loading and unloading and to shorten the time ships spent at the dock. He noted that some vessels were operating under a “tiba–bongkar–berangkat” (arrive–unload–depart) pattern to reduce turnaround times and increase the number of trips per day.

ASDP indicated that the deployment pattern could be revised in coordination with the Harbourmaster and Port Authority, the Land Transportation Management Agency and other regulators, depending on real-time conditions at sea and on land. The company framed the strategy as a step to progressively disperse queues that had been forming for weeks on the roads leading to Ketapang and Gilimanuk.

Traffic conditions and backlog

Regional coverage from East Java reported that, on the same Friday, the tail of the vehicle queue toward Ketapang reached around five kilometres, reflecting congestion that had persisted for almost a month. Earlier in September, queues on the corridor had been reported at up to 8–13 kilometres, prompting ASDP to add vessels and adjust operating patterns.

ASDP and local media did not specify how long individual travellers were waiting on 18 September, and they did not give a firm timetable for when the crossing would fully return to normal levels of service. Coverage instead emphasised that the speed at which the backlog could be cleared would depend not only on the number of ships, but also on manoeuvring, berthing, loading and unloading processes, water conditions and dock capacity.

What travellers should do

Passengers planning to cross between Java and Bali were advised in local reports to monitor official service information from ASDP before travelling to Ketapang or Gilimanuk, as vessel numbers and dock assignments can change during the day in response to conditions. Travellers were also urged to follow instructions from officers and comply with traffic arrangements at the ports to help keep vehicles moving safely and efficiently.

Sources

• RRI Jember regional report: "ASDP Operasikan 24 Kapal untuk Urai Antrean Ketapang–Gilimanuk"
• Detik Jatim article: "Strategi ASDP Atasi Macet Horor Ketapang-Gilimanuk"
• Tribun Jatim Timur Banyuwangi report: "Hampir Sebulan, Kemacetan Menuju Pelabuhan Ketapang Banyuwangi Terus Berulang"
• Republika Ekonomi article: "ASDP Kerahkan 24 Kapal untuk Urai Antrean Kendaraan hingga 13 Km di Ketapang"