Limited Number of Docks: New Permits for Merak-Bakauheni Ferry Routes Should Be Halted
The Indonesian Ferry Operators Association (Gapasdap) has stated that the main problem on the Merak-Bakauheni ferry route is not a lack of ships, but the limited number of docks available.
The Chairman of Gapasdap, Khoiri Soetomo, revealed that the number of ships with operating permits on the route is actually already in excess, but they cannot operate optimally due to the limited docking facilities.
“Of the total 71 ships with permits, only about 28 ships can operate each day. The rest have to wait their turn. This means that the ship utilization rate is very low, even averaging less than 30% in a month,” said Khoiri, in Jakarta, Thursday (February 26, 2026).
According to him, this condition shows that the main problem is not a lack of fleet, but the limited dock infrastructure.
Gapasdap believes that the policy of adding new ship permits in this condition needs to be thoroughly reviewed. Adding ships without adding docks is considered potentially disruptive to the business climate, reducing service quality, and increasing risks to shipping safety.
“If ship operating permits continue to be added without adding docks, the operating time for each ship will be further reduced. This will have a direct impact on productivity and business sustainability,” he said.
From a business calculation perspective, Khoiri continued, each addition of a new ship operating permit on a route like Merak-Bakauheni indirectly encourages the need for a tariff increase of about 3%. This is because operators still bear fixed costs such as crew salaries, maintenance, and insurance, even if the ship does not operate optimally.
On the other hand, ship operators are still required to meet minimum service standards as stipulated in PM 62 of 2019, which includes aspects of safety, comfort, and service quality.
However, based on the tariff formulation in PM 66 of 2019, the current crossing tariffs are still about 31.8% behind the calculation of production cost/price (HPP).
“Operators are in a difficult position. On the one hand, they are required to meet service and safety standards, but on the other hand, revenue is not sufficient to cover operational costs,” explained Khoiri.
He also added that cost pressures are increasing along with the increase in the value of the US dollar, given that about 80% of ship maintenance components are affected by the US dollar exchange rate.
In the long term, this condition is feared to have an impact on the operator’s ability to meet safety and service standards as regulated in Law Number 17 of 2008 concerning Shipping.
In light of this, Gapasdap encourages the Ministry of Transportation to consistently implement a moratorium on new ship permits, especially on busy routes such as Merak-Bakauheni. In addition, Gapasdap proposes that the government prioritize the addition of docks on strategic routes. Each addition of one pair of docks is estimated to increase carrying capacity by about 15%, while also allowing an additional 4-5 ships to operate optimally.
“The main focus should be on optimizing the existing fleet by adding docks, not adding new ships. This way, the system can run more balanced and efficiently,” said Khoiri.
In addition, Gapasdap again encourages the government to immediately adjust tariffs according to the HPP calculation, to guarantee business continuity and the fulfillment of safety and service standards. “If tariff adjustments are not made immediately and ship permits continue to be added without infrastructure improvements, more and more operators will have difficulty, and may even be forced to stop operating. In the end, those who will suffer are not only entrepreneurs, but also the public and the national economy,” Khoiri concluded. (H-2)