State ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry said it has deployed maximum capacity to manage heavy traffic դեպի Gilimanuk Port, as long vehicle queues triggered by pre-holiday travel have begun to ease.
Congestion built up ahead of the Eid al-Fitr travel period and the temporary closure of key ferry routes during Nyepi Day from March 18 to March 20. Travellers have rushed to cross earlier, increasing pressure on crossings between Bali and Java.
The company said queues, which had stretched to around 36 km, have now shortened to about 20 km, although traffic remains dense.
“We are optimizing vessels, docks and operational arrangements to keep traffic moving,” Deputy President Director Yossianis Marciano said in a statement. “Many passengers are advancing their trips before the Nyepi closure, so all resources are being mobilized.”
Traffic conditions have also been affected by road congestion leading to Gilimanuk, including activity at fuel stations and roadside facilities, the company said.
At Ketapang crossing in East Java, General Manager Arief Eko said authorities were working with local partners to manage vehicle flows. Smaller vehicles have been redirected to buffer zones to reduce congestion on main access roads.
ASDP said it is operating 34 vessels on the Ketapang–Gilimanuk route and has implemented a rapid turnaround system at several docks, allowing ferries to unload and return immediately without taking on new vehicles.
Passenger traffic rises
Data from ASDP showed 76,495 passengers crossed from Bali to Java on March 16, up 2.9% from a year earlier. Vehicle crossings included 14,398 motorcycles, 6,350 cars, 1,339 trucks and 938 buses, totaling 23,025 vehicles.
Cumulative passenger traffic between 10 and five days before the holiday reached 309,135, a 0.7% increase year-on-year, while vehicle crossings rose 2.8% to 97,787.
ASDP said it would continue coordinating with authorities to ease congestion and maintain operations.
“We remain committed to ensuring safe and smooth ferry services so that public mobility and logistics distribution are not disrupted,” Yossi said.