Pelindo Regional 4 recorded a 6.3% increase in ship calls during the 2025 Christmas and New Year 2026 holiday period, supported by higher passenger traffic and strengthened operational preparedness, the state-owned port operator said on Tuesday.
The Christmas–New Year (Nataru) transport period ran from Dec. 10, 2025, to Jan. 7, 2026, covering 15 days before Christmas through 13 days after. Pelindo said port operations across its Regional 4 network remained safe, smooth and under control throughout the peak travel season.
A total of 1,232 ship calls were recorded across Pelindo Regional 4 ports during the period, up from 1,159 calls a year earlier. Ports with the highest vessel traffic included Ternate, Manado, Ambon, Kendari, Makassar and Bitung, reflecting continued growth in maritime activity in eastern Indonesia.
“The Christmas and New Year period is always critical due to increased public mobility,” Pelindo Regional 4 Executive Director Abdul Azis said.
“From 15 days before Christmas to 13 days after, we were able to maintain the smooth flow of ships and passengers while prioritising safety, security and service comfort,” he said further.
Passenger traffic also rose during the holiday period. Pelindo Regional 4 handled 791,678 passengers, an increase of about 5.45% from the previous year. The total comprised 417,087 embarking passengers and 374,591 disembarking passengers.
The busiest passenger terminals were located in Ambon, Makassar, Parepare, Ternate, Balikpapan and Manado, which serve as key transportation hubs during long holiday periods.
Pelindo said the increase in ship calls and passenger movements had been anticipated through adjustments to service patterns, improved terminal readiness and round-the-clock operational support.
“We optimised ship services by adjusting berthing schedules, preparing dock facilities and ensuring 24-hour operations,” said Yusida M. Palesang, Head of Operations Division at Pelindo Regional 4.
“Coordination with the port authority, ship operators and other stakeholders was key to preventing congestion,” said Yusida.
Daily ship traffic peaked between six and 13 days ahead of Christmas and again during the post-holiday return period, but remained within operational capacity, the company said.
To support holiday operations, Pelindo Regional 4 activated its 2025–2026 Nataru Sea Transportation Monitoring and Control Post, linked to a centralised reporting system that provided real-time monitoring of vessel and passenger flows.
The company also worked closely with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), National Police, port authorities (KSOP), the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and ship operators to ensure shipping safety, port security and emergency readiness.
“Effective cross-agency coordination played a crucial role in maintaining service reliability and user trust,” Yusida said.
Abdul Azis said Pelindo would use the holiday period’s operational data to further improve services ahead of future peak seasons.
“The success of this Christmas and New Year period reflects strong collaboration among Pelindo employees and stakeholders,” he said. “We will continue strengthening our systems to ensure Regional 4 ports remain reliable gateways to eastern Indonesia.”
Pelindo Regional 4 said the performance aligns with its service commitment under the company’s “Serving Wholeheartedly” tagline.