ASDP Chief Requests Replacement of Ketapang-Gilimanuk Ferries with Larger Capacity Vessels

The Chief Executive of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry, Heru Widodo, has stated that several operational improvements are necessary at Gilimanuk and Ketapang ports, including an increase in ship tonnage.

Widodo indicated that tolled highways may extend to Banyuwangi, East Java, and warned that if port facilities are not upgraded, congestion at the ports will result.

“If port facilities are not promptly expanded and improved, that will become a new bottleneck,” Widodo said at Merak Port on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.

He added that port facility improvements cannot be made at only one location, but rather both opposing ports must be upgraded simultaneously, citing the example of Gilimanuk and Ketapang ports.

“When we talk about expanding facilities, we cannot discuss just one side. Because ports and berths are paired. If Ketapang is expanded, Gilimanuk must also be expanded. They are paired,” he stated.

Additionally, Widodo noted that the majority of vessels operating on the Gilimanuk-Ketapang route need replacement. He has proposed replacing ships with larger tonnage.

“Currently, the vessels operating on the Ketapang-Gilimanuk route are ships with gross tonnage (GT) below 1,000. There are some larger ones above 1,000. We have some ships of 2,000 tonnes, but the more dominant ones are smaller vessels below 1,000,” he explained.

“We have already proposed to the government to promptly replace these vessels with higher capacity ships,” he added.