KM Tidar Transports Hundreds of Passengers to Tenau Port Kupang Ahead of Mudik Season
The KM Tidar, a vessel operated by state-owned PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni), docked at Tenau Port in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara on the evening of Tuesday, 10 March, disembarking hundreds of passengers. The vessel is one of seven Pelni ships deployed to transport passengers for the mudik season this year.
Teguh Hari Setiadi, Head of the Kupang Branch of PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni), stated that the KM Tidar transported 8,947 passengers during the March 2026 period. “Pelni Kupang operates six existing passenger vessels plus one support vessel, bringing the total to seven passenger vessels and three pioneer vessels,” said Teguh Hari Setiadi in Kupang on Wednesday, 11 March.
The seven passenger vessels comprise the KM Bukit Siguntang, KM Tidar, KM Lawit, KM Awu, KM Sirimau, KM Wilis and the support vessel KM Binaiya, whilst the three pioneer vessels are the KM Sanus 108, KM Sanus 104, and KM Sanus 90.
According to operational data from Pelni’s Kupang branch for March 2026, the KM Bukit Siguntang transported the highest number of passengers with 9,195 people, followed by the KM Tidar with 8,947 passengers and the KM Wilis with 4,963 passengers. The KM Awu carried 3,741 passengers whilst the KM Sirimau transported 3,632 passengers. The KM Lawit made two journeys transporting 647 and 2,483 passengers respectively, whilst the KM Binaiya support vessel transported 582 passengers.
Teguh explained that to serve the mobility needs of communities throughout East Nusa Tenggara, Pelni’s Kupang branch currently operates seven passenger vessels serving various routes across eastern Indonesia. Sea transport via Pelni vessels remains a primary choice for residents, particularly in archipelagic regions requiring long-distance travel at relatively affordable fares.
“Pelni vessels serve important routes connecting East Nusa Tenggara with other regions including Surabaya, Makassar, and areas in Maluku and Papua,” he said.