A strong earthquake shook North Sulawesi and North Maluku on Thursday morning, but PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) said ferry services remained safe and operational.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported a magnitude 7.6 quake at 05:48 WIB, with the epicenter located 129 km southeast of Bitung at a depth of 33 km. The tremor initially raised tsunami concerns and was followed by aftershocks.
ASDP President Director Heru Widodo said the company quickly activated its emergency response, ensuring all operations in affected areas such as Ternate and Bitung continued with heightened safety monitoring.
“Fleet readiness, personnel coordination, and real-time monitoring are key to keeping services safe and controlled,” Heru said.
Monitoring at ASDP’s Bitung branch showed port facilities, parking areas, and waiting rooms were undamaged, with calm waters allowing normal ferry operations. Six vessels covering 11 routes were reported in good condition, with crews and staff confirmed safe.
The KMP Ranaka, serving the Bitung–Tobelo route, remained operational despite being about 65 nautical miles from the quake’s epicenter. The busy Bitung–Ternate route also continued normal service, supported by the KMP Dalente Woba and KMP Portlink VIII.
In Ternate, General Manager Mushar Usman said operations at Pelabuhan Bastiong, Rum, and Sidangole were unaffected, with no reported damage to port infrastructure or vessels. Non-operational staff were allowed to work from home as a precaution against aftershocks, but ferry services continued without disruption.
ASDP emphasized that ferry services are crucial for maintaining mobility and logistics in eastern Indonesia, and the company said safety remains its top priority.