Pelni Admits Many Older Vessels are Still in Use, How is This Possible?
PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni) has admitted that a portion of its operating fleet consists of older vessels. Nevertheless, the company ensures that the technical condition of every ship meets seaworthiness requirements before being deployed to serve passengers.
The President Director of Pelni, Budi Setyawan Wijaya, stated that the company currently operates approximately 83 ships, serving around 5.1 million passengers. Given the large number of vessels and passengers, safety remains one of the company’s primary concerns.
“When looking at our fleet, some of the ages are indeed quite old, one could say that. However, the key factor is that every ship must be seaworthy,” said Buju during the Forwahub Workshop on Friday (2/10/2026).
A ship’s age does not automatically render it unoperational. The main focus is ensuring that the technical condition of the vessel complies with seaworthiness regulations before it commences its voyage.
To maintain the condition of the fleet, Pelni conducts regular ship maintenance. This includes scheduled annual docking to ensure various parts of the ship remain in a condition that meets safety standards.
“Internally, we conduct regular and scheduled maintenance, such as annual docking,” he noted.
Pelni also records various conditions or findings that occur while ships are in operation. These records then serve as the basis for inspections when a ship enters its docking period.
“Furthermore, we record everything that happens on board before docking, so that these issues can be thoroughly checked during the docking process,” Budi explained.
In addition to maintenance and docking, ramp checks are conducted to ensure vessel readiness. Pelni also equips its passenger ships with various safety equipment, including lifeboats and inflatable liferafts.
Beyond the technical aspects of the ships, Pelni also assesses the readiness of the crew as a vital component of maritime safety. The company provides regular safety training to its crew members (ABK). Before being assigned to a ship, crew members also undergo a familiarisation process to ensure they understand the ship’s conditions and the procedures required during their duties.
“Our target is certainly zero incidents and zero accidents, because we deeply understand that every single life is precious to us,” Budi concluded.