PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas said on Thursday it is dropping container service fees for shipments carrying humanitarian aid to disaster-hit areas in Aceh and Sumatra, as part of efforts to support government and community relief operations.
The state-owned port terminal operator said the free services cover container handling charges, stacking fees, and receiving and delivery services at both the port of origin and destination.
“This policy is a form of our support for disaster response efforts,” Pelindo Terminal Petikemas Corporate Secretary Widyaswendra said. The policy will take effect from Dec. 1, 2025, and apply to all terminals operated by the company, he added.
To qualify, shipping companies must submit details including the vessel name, service date, cargo description and container numbers used to transport relief goods. Terminal management will verify the information before approving the request, Widyaswendra said.
He added that the company has communicated the mechanism to service users and instructed terminal operators to coordinate with relevant stakeholders, including the Harbormaster’s Office and the Port Authority, to ensure smooth implementation of the programme.
Separately, PT Meratus Line said it is also supporting relief efforts by providing free aid shipments to Sumatra through its Meratus Foundation.
President Director Slamet Raharjo said the programme operates on three routes — Surabaya–Belawan, Jakarta–Belawan and Jakarta–Padang. So far, the company has transported 14 containers of aid collected from the public and partner organisations, including the Indonesian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA), to aid posts in Aceh, Medan and Padang.
Meratus remains open to additional aid shipments, Slamet said, but the next delivery will take place in January 2026 due to restrictions on truck transportation during the Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 holiday period, which begins on Friday.