Wan Hai Lines, a leading Taiwanese shipping company, officially launched its direct Makassar-China service with the maiden call of the Wan Hai 316 containership at Makassar New Port (TPK New Makassar) on February 11, 2025.
The Wan Hai 316, a 213-meter-long vessel with a capacity of 2,646 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), will regularly operate on the Makassar – Kaohsiung (Taiwan) – Shekou (China) route. This service, known as the IA3 service, is expected to significantly boost exports from Sulawesi and strengthen the province’s role as a regional hub for Eastern Indonesia.
“This service offers a more efficient logistics route for businesses in Sulawesi, especially those exporting to Kaohsiung and Shekou,” said Sunarno, a representative of Tresna Muda Sejati, Wan Hai Lines’ official agent in Indonesia.
Sunarno confirmed the service will operate on a regular basis, emphasizing the company’s commitment to supporting smooth shipping operations. The regular availability of this service is anticipated to stimulate the growth of Sulawesi’s export sector, offering local businesses increased access to international markets.
With its large vessel capacity, the new service is well-equipped to handle various export commodities, including agricultural products, fisheries, and manufactured goods. As Sulawesi is renowned for its agricultural and fisheries industries, the direct service is expected to enhance the province’s access to key international markets, particularly in Taiwan and China.
This route marks an important step in improving Indonesia’s maritime connectivity, especially in Eastern Indonesia, which has faced challenges in accessing global markets. By offering a more direct and efficient shipping route, Wan Hai Lines provides local entrepreneurs with new opportunities to expand their export reach.
ALFI WELCOMES THE SERVICE, APPRECIATES PELINDO
The Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association (ALFI) of South and West Sulawesi (Sulselbar) has strongly welcomed the launch of Wan Hai’s direct call service at TPK New Makassar.
Syaifuddin Syahrudi, Chairman of ALFI Sulselbar, hailed the new service as a major step in improving logistics efficiency across the Sulawesi region, particularly for shipments to China.
“This direct call service is expected to significantly improve both time and cost efficiency,” said Syaifuddin, also known as Ipho. Previously, goods shipped from Sulawesi to China required transshipment at major ports such as Surabaya or Jakarta, leading to longer transit times and higher logistics costs. The new direct service bypasses this, allowing for faster delivery times and reduced expenses.
Ipho also highlighted that the introduction of this service gives cargo owners more options. “Before, SITC (another shipping company) also introduced a direct call service from TPK New Makassar, but now we have even more choices,” he explained.
This new service not only promises to cut shipping times but also offers a significant reduction in logistics costs. As a result, businesses are better positioned to compete, with reduced operational expenses benefiting both local industries and international competitiveness.
“The availability of this service allows businesses in Sulawesi to operate more efficiently, especially as global competition intensifies,” Ipho added.
The service is also expected to boost the export volume in the region and enhance connectivity between Sulawesi and other parts of Eastern Indonesia. Moreover, it solidifies TPK Makassar’s role as a growing regional shipping hub.
For the maiden voyage, approximately 100 containers arrived from Palu, with additional shipments transported by land from other provinces, according to Ipho.
ALFI Sulselbar is optimistic that this new service will continue to open more opportunities for local businesses to reach global markets, particularly in China, one of Indonesia’s key trading partners. There are hopes that the service will expand to other routes, enabling even more logistics players in Sulawesi to benefit from this efficient shipping option.
“We appreciate the improvements made by Pelindo (TPK New Makassar), and we look forward to more direct call services from this port in the future,” said Ipho.