Pelni Baubau Prepares for 2026 Eid Al-Fitr Passenger Surge, Vows to Eliminate 'Rat Doors'
The head of the Baubau branch of PT Pelni, Djasman, stated that his company is ready to face the challenges of the 2026 Eid al-Fitr transportation season by increasing supervision, especially regarding potential passengers without tickets.
“We at Pelni Baubau are ready to face the 2026 Eid al-Fitr transportation season. All the obstacles that may arise at the port have been anticipated with careful coordination with all stakeholders to ensure the smooth arrival and departure of passengers,” said Djasman when met at the Baubau Pelni branch office, Southeast Sulawesi, Thursday (February 26).
Passenger movement projections show significant numbers, with around 26,186 people expected to depart, while 35,047 people are projected to arrive. This projection is calculated based on the period from 15 days before to 15 days after Eid al-Fitr.
The favourite routes for passengers from Baubau include Ternate, Ambon, Papua, Balikpapan, and Tarakan, which are predicted to be the main destinations during the Eid al-Fitr homecoming season.
One of the issues that often arises is the presence of passengers without tickets and the phenomenon of ‘rat doors’. Djasman explained that the condition of the terminal is now much more organised. “Currently, there are almost no ‘rat doors’. There are only two or three doors: the east door, the west door, and the main terminal door,” he said.
The terminal, which is managed by KSOP (Port Authority), has also undergone major renovations and is now equipped with tight security, involving TNI AL (Navy), Polri (Police), and KSOP security personnel at every access point.
Although some doors appear to be open, Djasman emphasised that the vulnerable points have been mapped out in detail. “We have identified potential vulnerable points and are ready to face these challenges,” he added.
Regarding security facilities, Djasman revealed that there are two X-ray units available at the terminal. However, he admitted that the use of these tools has not been optimal.
“We cannot yet be sure whether these X-rays are functioning properly, but their presence is clearly very important to filter out unnecessary items being brought onto the ship,” he said.
With increased supervision and better security facilities, Pelni Baubau hopes to create a safer and more comfortable voyage during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr transportation season. (Z-10)
PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia or PT Pelni (Persero) Makassar branch ensures the readiness of Eid al-Fitr 2026 transportation services by operating 14 ships.
During the peak of Eid al-Fitr, which is estimated to fall on March 21-22, the number of tickets sold reached 6,692 seats.
Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi said that the implementation of a flexible working arrangement (FWA) would support the smooth flow of Eid al-Fitr transportation.
The Director General of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), Bobby Rasyidin, conducted a working visit to the Semarang Region 4 area, Thursday (February 12).
In collaboration with BMKG, PT KAI Monitors Weather for the Safety of Railway Transportation during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr Transportation Period.