Bima Regency Proposes ASDP Open Sape-Makassar Route to Reduce Logistics Costs

The Bima Regency Government, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), is encouraging PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) to open a ferry crossing route between Sape and Makassar. This route is considered a solution to cutting logistics costs and accelerating economic mobility.

The Head of the Bima Regency Transportation Agency, A Rifai, confirmed this initiative. Furthermore, the Regent of Bima, Ady Mahyudi, has officially submitted a formal request letter to ASDP regarding the opening of the Sape-Makassar ferry route.

“That is correct. The Regent has issued an official letter to ASDP. However, there has been no response so far as we are awaiting approval from the Director General of Land Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation,” he told detikBali on Tuesday (29/09/202lar).

In relation to this, the Bima Regency Government will hold discussions and invite several parties, including the General Manager of the PT ASDP Sape Branch, the Head of Bappeda, the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR), and the Heads of the Transportation Agencies of Bima and Dompu.

“To finalise and discuss this plan, God willing, a meeting with relevant parties has been scheduled at the Bima Regency Bappeda Office on Wednesday (30/09/2026),” he explained.

Rifai noted that opening the Sape-Makassar route is highly important and strategic. Key commodities from Bima Regency, such as shallots and salt, could be easily supplied to regions including Papua, Manado, and Kalimantan via the Port of Makassar.

“Currently, the distribution of Bima’s shallots and salt is not running smoothly because it relies on ships with quite high freight costs,” he explained.

Rifai emphasised that if the ASDP ferry crossing route from Sape to Makassar and vice versa is opened, it is certain that the commodity delivery system will no longer require multiple rounds of loading and unloading.

“It is certain that goods will no longer need to be moved up and down multiple times,” he said.

Additionally, he added that the opening of the route is believed to improve local economic development. The mobility of people and goods between Bima and Makassar will become smoother and faster.

“What is also very important is that it can reduce travel time. The estimated journey is only about 11-12 hours,” he concluded.