Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi Implements Strategy to Resolve Severe Congestion at Gilimanuk Port
Jakarta – Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has affirmed that his ministry will undertake various measures to reduce vehicle congestion at Gilimanuk Ferry Port in Bali.
The congestion at the port has persisted for several days, with vehicle queues extending 32 kilometres before entering the port area. Working alongside the Land Transport Management Agency (BPTD) Bali and other relevant stakeholders, Purwagandhi assured continued coordination with local government to identify solutions.
“We are pushing for the acceleration of various operational steps in the field to speed up the reduction of vehicle and passenger congestion in the Gilimanuk area so that public mobility continues to be served well,” Purwagandhi stated on Monday, 16 March 2026.
To accelerate vehicle movement and improve ferry operations, the number of vessels deployed has reached 35 units – an increase from the existing 28, with 7 additional vessels added – operating on an 8-trip service schedule. The fleet comprises 19 vessels operating at the moveable bridge (MB) terminal, 11 at the landing craft machine (LCM) terminal, and 4 additional support vessels to increase ferry capacity.
Beyond fleet expansion, the Transport Ministry is implementing several operational procedures. These include the Arrival-Discharge-Departure (ADD) scheme to accelerate vessel rotation and expedite cargo handling to streamline small vehicle movement.
“Traffic management for vehicles is also being strengthened through the operation of a buffer zone at Gilimanuk Port’s cargo terminal and the optimisation of the Cekik control point as a vehicle monitoring centre before vehicles enter the port area,” Purwagandhi noted.
According to weather monitoring by Indonesia’s meteorological agency (BMKG) at 11:55 WITA, conditions in the Bali Strait were conducive for maritime operations. The weather was reported as cloudy with low wave heights of approximately 1 metre, visibility reaching 10 kilometres, and northward water current at approximately 2.5 knots.
The Transport Ministry will continue intensive monitoring of ferry operational conditions and coordinate with all relevant parties to ensure smooth transport services along the Ketapang-Gilimanuk crossing.