Truck-driver protest sends Gilimanuk queues into Melaya

Melaya — A protest by truck drivers at Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi disrupted the Bali–Java ferry connection on Saturday, 26 September 2026, leaving vehicles queuing for up to about 9 kilometres from Gilimanuk Port into Melaya, Jembrana, early on Sunday, 27 September.

Why it matters: Vehicles leaving Bali for Java faced queues reaching Melaya, while ferry services later returned to normal with residual queues still reported on both sides of the crossing.

The protest temporarily obstructed access and slowed ferry operations at Ketapang, according to Bali Post. RRI reported that the disruption began on Saturday night and that the queue from Gilimanuk reached the Melaya area before traffic conditions improved.

Queues continued on Sunday

Bali Post reported that the queue had not fully dispersed by 2 a.m. on Sunday, with vehicles backed up to Klatakan hamlet in Melaya. The report did not give a later time for complete clearance.

Other reports gave shorter measurements later on Sunday. RRI reported a queue of about 3.5 kilometres from the Gilimanuk entrance to the Lintas Laut Monument at about 9:15 a.m., while Detik Bali reported a queue of about 4.8 kilometres reaching the Cekik Forest area.

RRI also reported that the ferry service had returned to normal, although residual queues remained on both sides of the Bali Strait. PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry said about 3.5 kilometres of vehicles remained queued on the Gilimanuk side and about 10 kilometres on the Ketapang side, according to the report.

The disruption followed a truck-driver protest and blockade at the Ketapang port complex on Saturday. The event affected the main crossing used by vehicles travelling between Bali and Java, including freight traffic.

Sources

• Bali Post
• RRI
• Detik Bali