Frequent Queues at Merak Crossing Prompt Calls for Improvements from Users

Long queues at the Merak crossing often recur. This situation is complained about by drivers, truck operators, and the community around the port because it causes many losses for them. Marhan, Chairman of the Merak Truck Operators Association (Petruck), emphasised that the frequent long queues have disadvantaged many parties.

“Due to trucks queuing on the main road, activities of the community around the port are severely disrupted. This is because the public can no longer freely use the road access for their daily activities. In addition, our drivers experience losses from increased operational costs, reduced income, disrupted mental and psychological well-being, and claims due to delivery delays,” said Marhan on Wednesday (1/4/2026).

According to Marhan, the many ships idling at the Merak crossing need to be fully operated since there are still many ships that are not in operation. “Gapasdap (National Association of River, Lake, and Ferry Transport Entrepreneurs) should operate those many idle ships so that queues no longer frequently occur,” demanded Marhan.

Separately, the Chairman of the Merak Branch of Gapasdap, Togar Napitupulu, emphasised that the many idle ships at the Merak crossing route cannot all be operated due to the limited number of docking berths for those ships.

“The number of ships that are currently not operating or idling is indeed many, but because of the limited number of berths, these ships can no longer be operated,” he said on Thursday (2/4/2026).

According to Togar, in order for the idle ships to be operated maximally, ASDP (River, Lake, and Ferry Transport) needs to add or build several new berths. “We will push ASDP and the government to immediately build new berths so that those many idle ships can be operated maximally, thus preventing vehicle queues and losses due to queues from recurring,” he concluded. (H-2)

The issue of long queues due to berth limitations cannot be taken lightly. If left unchecked, this condition has the potential to cause widespread impacts on the economy.

Gapasdap is urging the Ministry of Transportation to consistently implement a moratorium on new ship permits, especially on busy routes like Merak-Bakauheni.