Logistics congestion on the Merak–Bakauheni ferry crossing prompts call for additional berths

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – A backlog of logistics vehicles has formed on the Merak–Bakauheni ferry crossing over the past two days. The queue is dominated by freight trucks.

The surge in vehicles was triggered by the acceleration of logistics deliveries ahead of restrictions on operations for vehicles with three axles or more. Weather conditions have also slowed vessel services at the port.

Khoiri Soetomo, General Chairman of the Central Leadership Council of the National Association of River, Lake, and Ferry Transport Entrepreneurs (DPP GAPASDAP), said that the improvement of port infrastructure has become an urgent need.

Improvements are needed in terms of both the quantity and the quality of the berths available.

“From a quantity perspective, the current berth capacity cannot accommodate the number of ships that already have operating licenses,” Khoiri said in a formal statement on Friday, 6 March 2026.

“Due to the limitation in the number of berths, every day more ships must wait for their turn to operate than those that can sail,” he explained.

“This condition means that the potential capacity for transport is not being utilised optimally,” he continued.

Khoiri assessed that increasing the number of berths will improve the utilisation of ships that already have operating licenses. This is expected to reduce the backlog of vehicles currently observed.

The quality of port infrastructure also needs to be improved. The construction of a breakwater (pemecah gelombang) is considered important to protect ships while at anchor.

“With adequate waterway protection, loading and unloading activities can continue more optimally even if weather conditions are unfavourable,” he explained.

The backlog of logistics vehicles along the Merak–Bakauheni route serves as an important reminder of the need to accelerate improvements to national ferry port infrastructure. This route remains one of Indonesia’s most vital distribution corridors.

“Reforms are essential so that ferry services can operate more efficiently, vehicle waiting times can be reduced, and the smooth distribution of goods and overall national economic activity can be maintained,” he emphasised.