Extreme Weather Overshadows Nataru Holiday, ASDP President Director: Safety Of Top Priority Passengers

JAKARTA - Extreme weather that is expected to last during the peak of the rainy season overshadows the implementation of Nataru 2025 and New Year's 2026 transportation.

PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) ensures safety as a top priority.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts that the peak of the rainy season will occur early in western Indonesia from November to December 2025, before shifting to the southern and eastern regions from January to February 2026.

Around Merak Port, surface current activity since early November has been observed to increase with a speed of 32103 cm per second, a condition that demands additional vigilance in the management of crossing operations.

ASDP President Director, Heru Widodo emphasized that the weather dynamics should not reduce service safety standards.

According to him, every operational policy must be based on the principles of prudence and protection of service users.

"We cannot control extreme weather, but we can prepare preparedness and must prepare it. Safety (passengers) is a top priority, and that is the basis for every ASDP operational decision making," Heru said in an official statement, Wednesday, December 10.

As a mitigation measure, ASDP prepared anticipatory efforts in the four main branches, namely Merak, Bakauheni, Ketapang, and Gilimanuk. Starting from the readiness of operational support tugboats, increasing the readiness of fleets and port facilities, to strengthening communication and information systems.

Intensive coordination is also carried out with BMKG for periodic monitoring of port weather and crossing routes, as well as with regulators such as Syahbandar and BPTD, especially in making port disclosures.

"The speed of information and the accuracy of coordination are the keys to safety in the midst of dynamic weather. Therefore, we ensure that all parties move in one command," said Heru.

In terms of operations, ASDP prepares buffer zones in Rest Area KM 43, KM 68, as well as the Indah Kiat Port area as additional shelter locations. On the Merak Bakauheni route, as many as 28 ships were operated under normal conditions and increased to 33 ships during peak current through coordination with KSOP.

The readiness of the facilities is also strengthened. Merak Port has alerted three health posts, 31 toll gates, 217 CCTV points, and 131 toilet units. Meanwhile, Bakauheni Port is supported by two health posts, 92 toilet units, 167 CCTV points, and 27 counters and crossing machines.

Similarly, the Director General of Land Transportation, Aan Suhanan emphasized that safety must be a priority with all transportation stakeholders.

"We cannot avoid weather conditions and control them. Therefore, preparedness by prioritizing safety is absolute," said Aan.

Amid the focus on safety, the management of crossing currents remains strengthened.

Pemerintah menerapkan pembagian pelabuhan berdasarkan golongan kendaraan, dengan pengaturan di sisi Jawa melalui Pelabuhan Merak, Ciwandan, BBJ Bojonegara, dan Krakatau Bandar Samudera.

Sementara di sisi Sumatera melalui Pelabuhan Bakauheni, Panjang, Wika Beton, dan BBJ Muara Pilu.

“Skema ini dilengkapi dengan penerapan delaying system guna mengendalikan kedatangan kendaraan dan mencegah penumpukan,” kata Aan.

The government applies port distribution based on the group of vehicles, with arrangements on the Java side through Merak, Ciwandan, Bojonegara BBJ, and Krakatau Bandar Samudera ports.

Meanwhile, on the Sumatra side, through Bakauheni, Panjang, Wika Beton, and BBJ Muara Pilu ports.

"This scheme is equipped with the implementation of a delay system to control vehicle arrivals and prevent buildup," said Aan.