Transport Minister demands standby vessels at every port berth during Lebaran exodus

Bandarlampung (ANTARA) — Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has demanded that every berth at every port must have a vessel on standby to carry passengers during the 2026 Lebaran Transport period.

“Lampung Province is the region with the busiest transport hub, particularly for vehicle crossings through the port, together with Merak Port as the two are interconnected,” the Transport Minister said in Bandarlampung, Lampung, on Tuesday.

He said the density of traffic at Bakauheni Port as a departure crossing point could reach 813,750 vehicles, whilst as a destination crossing port, movement could reach 2.94 million vehicles, making it the second busiest after Merak Port.

“Given this density, we expect the management of the Java-Sumatra homebound traffic flow, and vice versa, to proceed swiftly. Therefore, every berth at every port must not be left empty — there must be a vessel on standby,” he said.

He explained that his ministry, in cooperation with all relevant parties, would also strengthen operational management so that the two busiest crossing ports — Bakauheni Port and Merak Port — could operate properly, providing comfort and safety for travellers.

“All anticipatory measures and vehicle density management will be carried out consistently, as the potential for traffic movement at Merak Port and Bakauheni Port is quite high during the Lebaran Transport period,” he added.