ASDP: Lunar New Year Holiday Boosts Sumatra-Java-Bali Ferry Crossings
Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) has recorded an increase in ferry crossings on the main Java–Sumatra and Java–Bali routes, as public interest surges in taking advantage of the extended 2026 Lunar New Year holiday for travel.
"The 2026 Lunar New Year long holiday has once again driven inter-regional public mobility," said ASDP President Director Heru Widodo in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday.
Heru said the traffic increase reflects the growing movement of people during the holiday period. "This rise is not merely a statistical figure, but a real picture of increasing public travel activity," he said.
He added that ASDP is ensuring operational readiness runs optimally so that potential congestion at ports can be minimised.
He cited cumulative data from Saturday (14 February), showing that ferry crossings from Java to Sumatra via Merak Port experienced a significant surge. Total passengers reached 39,593, up 36.2 per cent compared to Friday (13 February), with vehicle volume reaching 10,750 units, an increase of 33.9 per cent.
Conversely, movement from Sumatra to Java via Bakauheni Port remained relatively stable. Passenger numbers were recorded at 28,611, a slight decline of 1.1 per cent, whilst vehicles reached 7,561 units, down 1.8 per cent compared to the previous day.
"This pattern shows that public movement is more dominant towards Sumatra at the start of the long holiday period," said Heru.
From Bali to Java via Gilimanuk Port, 21,069 passengers were recorded, up 6.8 per cent, with vehicles reaching 6,361 units, an increase of 6.4 per cent. Meanwhile, movement from Java to Bali via Ketapang Port recorded 20,638 passengers, a growth of 18.3 per cent, with 5,518 vehicles, up 4 per cent. The two-way increase indicates rising travel activity in the Java–Bali corridor.
ASDP also urged all ferry service users, particularly on the main Sumatra–Java–Bali routes, to heighten vigilance and prioritise safety on every journey. "The weather cannot be controlled, but preparedness can always be strengthened," said Heru.
ASDP Corporate Secretary Windy Andale added that the company continues to monitor the latest weather information from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and coordinates with port authorities and all stakeholders. She stressed that user safety remains the primary focus, with operations adjusted to weather conditions without compromising service security.
Based on BMKG forecasts for the period of 15–18 February 2026, most of Indonesia remains at the peak of the rainy season, influenced by the strengthening Asian Monsoon and atmospheric dynamics in southern Indonesian waters. These conditions have the potential to increase rainfall intensity, wind speeds and wave heights in several strategic ferry crossing waters.
BMKG forecasts wind speeds in the waters of the Sunda Strait, Java Sea and Bali Strait ranging from 8–20 knots, with gusts occasionally reaching 20–25 knots. Meanwhile, significant wave heights are in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 metres and may fluctuate according to daily weather developments.
Windy added that these conditions serve as an important reminder that natural factors play a significant role in ferry operations, making operator readiness and public travel planning key to ensuring safe journeys.
ASDP also provides travel flexibility through a refund policy of 25 per cent and a rescheduling service at a cost of 10 per cent, allowing service users to adjust their travel plans according to weather conditions.
"With operational readiness and services that continue to be strengthened, ASDP is committed to ensuring public journeys remain safe, comfortable and reliable until they reach their destination," said Windy.
"The 2026 Lunar New Year long holiday has once again driven inter-regional public mobility," said ASDP President Director Heru Widodo in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday.
Heru said the traffic increase reflects the growing movement of people during the holiday period. "This rise is not merely a statistical figure, but a real picture of increasing public travel activity," he said.
He added that ASDP is ensuring operational readiness runs optimally so that potential congestion at ports can be minimised.
He cited cumulative data from Saturday (14 February), showing that ferry crossings from Java to Sumatra via Merak Port experienced a significant surge. Total passengers reached 39,593, up 36.2 per cent compared to Friday (13 February), with vehicle volume reaching 10,750 units, an increase of 33.9 per cent.
Conversely, movement from Sumatra to Java via Bakauheni Port remained relatively stable. Passenger numbers were recorded at 28,611, a slight decline of 1.1 per cent, whilst vehicles reached 7,561 units, down 1.8 per cent compared to the previous day.
"This pattern shows that public movement is more dominant towards Sumatra at the start of the long holiday period," said Heru.
From Bali to Java via Gilimanuk Port, 21,069 passengers were recorded, up 6.8 per cent, with vehicles reaching 6,361 units, an increase of 6.4 per cent. Meanwhile, movement from Java to Bali via Ketapang Port recorded 20,638 passengers, a growth of 18.3 per cent, with 5,518 vehicles, up 4 per cent. The two-way increase indicates rising travel activity in the Java–Bali corridor.
ASDP also urged all ferry service users, particularly on the main Sumatra–Java–Bali routes, to heighten vigilance and prioritise safety on every journey. "The weather cannot be controlled, but preparedness can always be strengthened," said Heru.
ASDP Corporate Secretary Windy Andale added that the company continues to monitor the latest weather information from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and coordinates with port authorities and all stakeholders. She stressed that user safety remains the primary focus, with operations adjusted to weather conditions without compromising service security.
Based on BMKG forecasts for the period of 15–18 February 2026, most of Indonesia remains at the peak of the rainy season, influenced by the strengthening Asian Monsoon and atmospheric dynamics in southern Indonesian waters. These conditions have the potential to increase rainfall intensity, wind speeds and wave heights in several strategic ferry crossing waters.
BMKG forecasts wind speeds in the waters of the Sunda Strait, Java Sea and Bali Strait ranging from 8–20 knots, with gusts occasionally reaching 20–25 knots. Meanwhile, significant wave heights are in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 metres and may fluctuate according to daily weather developments.
Windy added that these conditions serve as an important reminder that natural factors play a significant role in ferry operations, making operator readiness and public travel planning key to ensuring safe journeys.
ASDP also provides travel flexibility through a refund policy of 25 per cent and a rescheduling service at a cost of 10 per cent, allowing service users to adjust their travel plans according to weather conditions.
"With operational readiness and services that continue to be strengthened, ASDP is committed to ensuring public journeys remain safe, comfortable and reliable until they reach their destination," said Windy.