PT Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok (PTP Nonpetikemas), a non-container terminal operator, Panjang Branch, has begun unloading a shipment of U.S.-made locomotives at Panjang Port as part of a wider effort to strengthen the nation’s railway freight infrastructure.
The vessel MV BBC Aquamarine docked at Panjang Port on Thursday (July 17, 2025) carrying 13 locomotives in the first wave of a 54-unit import order from the United States.
The deliveries are set to continue in phases until the end of December 2025, in support of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), the country’s state railway operator.
Each locomotive weighs 109 tonnes and is slated for deployment in South Sumatra and surrounding regions to support the transportation of coal and other key commodities.
“PTP Panjang is committed to delivering professional stevedoring services with rigorous safety and environmental oversight,” said Doddy Setiawan, Branch Manager of the PTP Nonpetikemas Panjang. “This marks another milestone following our successful handling of locomotive imports in 2021.”
The unloading operation, conducted at Pier A of the Panjang Port Multipurpose Terminal, began with a mandatory safety briefing led by the port’s Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) teams, along with field personnel and partner stakeholders.
Following discharge, the locomotives are being transported via a dedicated rail link from Panjang Port’s Line II to Tanjung Karang Station in Bandar Lampung. Officials said they aim to transfer up to four units per day.
The initiative underscores a broader push to enhance multimodal freight logistics across southern Sumatra, integrating maritime and rail networks to create a more efficient and sustainable supply chain system.
Government and port authorities were on hand for the operation, including senior representatives from the Panjang Port Authority, the local police and customs office (KSKP), and Pelindo Regional 2.