Ferry Services Become the Preferred Mode of Transport During Long Weekends
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Amidst the increased mobility of people during the Ascension Day long weekend, ferry transport is no longer seen as just an alternative mode of transportation, but has become the primary choice for inter-island travel that is practical, safe, and comfortable.
This trend is reflected in the high number of users on several major national routes managed by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero), especially on the Java–Sumatra and Bali corridors.
The President Director of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero), Heru Widodo, said that the long holiday momentum reflects increased public trust in increasingly modern, orderly, and integrated ferry services.
“The transformation of services carried out by ASDP in recent years has encouraged changes in people’s travel behavior. Ferries are now an important part of people’s travel style because they offer flexibility, efficiency, and an increasingly comfortable and safe travel experience,” said Heru.
Based on data from Wednesday (May 13) to Sunday (May 17) at 2:00 PM, the Merak–Bakauheni route served 133,248 passengers and 36,647 vehicles. Meanwhile, on the return flow of Bakauheni–Merak, ASDP served 118,383 passengers and 32,994 vehicles. The highest traffic peak occurred on Thursday (May 14), with an increase of 60.7 percent for passengers and 41.5 percent for vehicles on the Merak–Bakauheni route. Conversely, on the return flow of Bakauheni–Merak, passenger traffic increased by 19.5 percent and vehicle traffic increased by 18.3 percent.
High mobility also occurred on the Ketapang–Gilimanuk route. ASDP served 96,858 passengers and 26,258 vehicles, an increase of 47.1 percent for passengers and 25.1 percent for vehicles on Thursday (May 14). Meanwhile, on the return flow of Gilimanuk–Ketapang, a total of 90,759 passengers and 26,317 vehicles were served, with an increase in passenger traffic of 33.2 percent and vehicle traffic of 11.4 percent.
The Corporate Secretary of ASDP, Windy Andale, explained that the company continues to strengthen service excellence through optimizing its fleet, preparing personnel, strengthening security systems, and consistently implementing safety standards at ports and on ships.
“We ensure that all services run optimally by prioritizing the safety, security, and comfort of users. Operational improvements are carried out comprehensively through intensive coordination with regulators, ship operators, security forces, and all related stakeholders,” she said.
In addition, ASDP continues to improve the quality of service facilities at ports, such as air-conditioned waiting rooms, charging stations, massage chairs, children’s play areas, places of worship, and food and beverage outlets.
The travel experience is also becoming easier through the optimization of the Ferizy digital platform, which allows for ticket purchases up to 60 days in advance, more organized travel schedules, and a faster and more efficient check-in process.
“We encourage people who will be using the ferry to buy tickets well in advance because there are no longer any ticket sales at the port. Make sure you have a ticket H-1 (one day before) and avoid buying from scalpers, which can harm users,” said Windy.
As the backbone of national connectivity, ASDP is committed to continuing to provide safe, reliable, and sustainable ferry services for all Indonesian people.