ASDP Commits to Supporting Pioneer Ferry Services for Connectivity in Underdeveloped Regions

State-owned ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) has affirmed its readiness to support pioneer crossing services to maintain connectivity in underdeveloped, frontier, outermost, and border (3TP) regions. ASDP President Director Heru Widodo stated in Jakarta on Monday that the company has proposed continued support for the operation of pioneer services until the end of the year. “Pioneer services are not merely about connecting one island to another, but are the lifeblood of public mobility, logistics distribution, and access to education, healthcare, and economic activity. Therefore, the sustainability of these services is a shared responsibility,” Heru said. The commitment was reinforced during a coordination meeting led by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, alongside members of Commission V, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi, and Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. The meeting addressed the continuation of pioneer transport services in the second half of 2026 amid budget constraints. Heru proposed shifting the funding mechanism to a Public Service Obligation (PSO) scheme to provide better financial certainty. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi confirmed the government has agreed on steps to ensure the services continue uninterrupted, while Deputy Speaker Dasco Ahmad emphasised that transport connectivity in 3TP areas is a key part of supporting the President’s priority programmes. Following the meeting, ASDP resumed operations of three pioneer ferry routes in East Nusa Tenggara, though the Kalabahi–Sabu–Raijua–Waingapu route remains temporarily suspended due to extreme weather warnings for safety reasons.