Gilimanuk Ferry Queues Reach 12 Kilometres During Berth Upgrade
Queues at Bali’s Gilimanuk port stretched to about 12 kilometres as ASDP upgraded the MB II berth and work continued on the Ketapang–Gilimanuk ferry link.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 2 min read Updated
Gilimanuk — Vehicle queues on the Bali side of the Ketapang–Gilimanuk ferry crossing stretched to about 12 kilometres this month as PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry carried out berth upgrades at Gilimanuk and Ketapang, according to Bali.live and RRI. The congestion has mainly affected freight traffic.
The disruption is linked to the closure of Gilimanuk’s MB II berth, which ASDP shut on 21 August 2026 for reconstruction and capacity improvement, according to Balipost and detikBali. The operator said the work began with dismantling the existing structure and was intended to improve safety for passengers, workers and vessels.
ASDP is upgrading the Gilimanuk berth from 30 tonnes to 50 tonnes, Balipost and RRI reported. Bali.live also said the Ketapang side is being upgraded in parallel, reducing flexibility across the main Bali–Java crossing.
The queue length was reported on 4 September, when RRI said congestion on the approach to Ketapang had reached around 12 kilometres. Bali.live also reported queues of up to 12 kilometres on the crossing and said more than 20 vessels, including support craft, were operating on the route.
What travellers should expect
ASDP has been distributing loading and unloading duties across the remaining berths and applying a special operating pattern, according to Balipost and detikBali. The operator has also used larger vessels to help move traffic more quickly, RRI reported.
Even with extra vessels, delays can persist because operations depend on weather and sea conditions in the Bali Strait, according to Bali.live. The practical advice for motorists and freight operators is to allow extra time for the crossing.
The project is aimed at strengthening the Bali–Java ferry link for heavier vehicles. Balipost and RRI said ASDP plans to complete the Gilimanuk upgrade before the year-end holiday travel period, known locally as Nataru.
Gilimanuk and Ketapang are the main ferry gateways between Bali and East Java, carrying passengers, private vehicles and logistics traffic. With one berth closed and the other side also being upgraded, the route has been operating with reduced capacity.
Sources
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