ASPD Strengthens Anticipatory Measures to Ensure Smooth Ketapang-Gilimanuk Traffic Flow

Amid the dynamics of increasing crossing traffic, PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) continues to strengthen anticipatory measures to ensure the Ketapang-Gilimanuk flow remains smooth, safe, and controlled.

Through solid cross-agency coordination and adaptive operational scenarios, ASDP places safety as the top priority in every service decision. The Deputy Director of ASDP, Yossianis Marciano, urged service users to plan their travel times.

“We urge service users to avoid travelling during the peak return flow of Eid, predicted to occur on 24, 28, and 29 March 2026,” Yossi stated in his remarks on Tuesday (24/3/2026).

He emphasised that all mitigation steps have been prepared in a measured manner and are ready to be implemented whenever necessary.

“We ensure that all operational steps are carried out in a measured, adaptive manner, prioritising safety as the main focus. In normal conditions, the crossing flow is expected to run smoothly; however, if there is a surge in vehicles or extreme weather, mitigation steps will be immediately implemented quickly and in a coordinated fashion,” Yossi said.

In density scenarios, particularly when the vehicle volume in the Ketapang Port parking area reaches 972 car units, ASDP, together with KSOP, BPTD, and the Police, will implement the Tiba-Bongkar-Berangkat (TBB) pattern. This scheme allows ships to immediately return to operations without waiting for a full load, thereby accelerating the dispersal of queues.

In addition, subsequent vehicles are directed to buffer zones, including the Bulusan area, while ASDP optimises large-capacity fleets such as KMP Portlink VII owned by ASDP and KMP Liputan XII owned by PT Segara Luas Samudra Abadi (SLSA) to speed up the loading and unloading process.

As part of integrated traffic management, the Grand Watudodol and Bulusan buffer zones are prepared with a capacity of around 900 vehicles for private cars and buses. Meanwhile, logistics vehicles are directed to Terminal Sritanjung, PT Pusri, and Pelindo Tanjung Wangi with a capacity of around 600 units. The existence of these buffer zones is key to keeping vehicle distribution controlled before entering the port, as well as a mitigation step during emergency conditions.

There are 55 ships ready for operation on the Ketapang-Gilimanuk route, with a daily ship production of around 28-32 ships. The operation of the daily number of ships is determined by Normal, Dense, and Very Dense operational patterns.

ASDP also urged service users to immediately purchase tickets through the Ferizy app or website trip.ferizy.com well in advance, as tickets can be bought 60 days before departure. User cooperation can help prevent congestion at the port.

Safety Prioritised

Police support further strengthens the management of crossing traffic.

“That safety is prioritised,” emphasised East Java Police Chief, Nanang Avianto.

In agreement, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated that the utilisation of the Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy could be one step in reducing density during certain periods, as well as the need for a comprehensive evaluation of conditions in Gilimanuk.

Based on data from the Ketapang Post during 24 hours on H+1 (23 March 2026), there were 177 ship trips recorded. Total passengers reached 38,212 people, an increase of 0.7 per cent compared to last year’s 37,943 people. Two-wheeled vehicles recorded 6,534 units, up 34.2 per cent from 4,870 units, while four-wheeled vehicles numbered 4,290 units, down 12.9 per cent from 4,927 units.

Logistics trucks reached 464 units, up 30 per cent from 357 units, and buses recorded 283 units, up 9.6 per cent. In total, vehicles crossing reached 11,571 units, an increase of 10.5 per cent compared to 10,467 units in the same period last year.

Cumulatively, from H-10 to H+1, total passengers recorded 285,104 people, slightly down 1.5 per cent compared to 289,463 people last year. Meanwhile, total vehicles reached 63,085 units, up 1.2 per cent from 62,355 units.

Meanwhile, the General Manager of the Ketapang Branch, Arief Eko, affirmed that operational readiness in the field is running optimally.

“We ensure that operational readiness runs maximally, from vehicle flow management in buffer zones to accelerating ship loading and unloading services, so that service users remain well served even with increased traffic,” he said.

“We continue to strengthen coordination with all stakeholders and ensure the readiness of buffer zones and emergency schemes runs optimally. The hope is that both in normal conditions and when dynamics occur in the field, the crossing flow remains smooth, safe, and controlled,” he concluded.