Long Unheard, How's The Pelni-ASDP Merger?

President Director of Pelni, Tri Andayani. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - The government plans to merge state-owned sea transportation sectors, namely PT Pelni (Persero) and PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) to PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo.

Then, how is the merger of the three companies?

President Director of Pelni, Tri Andayani admitted that he had not received further directions regarding the planned merger of SOEs in the sea transportation sector.

Both, from the government and the Danantara Investment Management Agency (BPI) as the manager of SOEs.

Furthermore, Tri Andayani said, finally the three companies had just conducted a study and coordination.

Pelindo plans to become the parent company.

"Not yet. Not yet. There is still only the last one," he said in Jakarta, Wednesday, December 10.

In May 2025, the Ministry of Transportation revealed that the study or study of the merger of the three companies had not yet been completed.

For your information, the plan to merge three SOEs in the sea transportation sector has been initiated since 2024, when Danantara has not yet been formed and the Ministry of SOEs is led by Erick Thohir.

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir will merge state-owned companies engaged in the sea transportation sector, namely PT Pelni (Persero) and PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) to PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo.

Lebih lanjut, Erick mengatakan Pelindo akan menjadi holding usai ketiga perusahaan pelat merah tersebut dimerger.

Dia bilang langkah ini bagian dari rencana Kementerian BUMN untuk merampingkan jumlah perusahaan pelat merah menjadi 30 perusahaan.

“Sudah kita sudah dorong (penggabungan Pelni, ASDP dan Pelindo). Yang jadi holding Pelindo,”katanya saat ditemui di kantor Kementerian BUMN, Jakarta, Selasa, 17 Desember.

Erick mengatakan, merger ini dilakukan demi efisiensi antarperusahaan agar bisa menurunkan biaya atau cost logistik di Indonesia. Termasuk meningkatkan aset keamanan penumpang.

“Pasti (usulan merger dilanjutkan), karena itu mendorong kembali bagaimana logistic cost bisa lebih turun, safety buat penumpang,” tuturnya.

Selain itu, Erick mengatakan dengan merger ini juga diharapkan kualitas pelayanan mulai dari pelabuhan, kapal, dan juga fasilitas penyeberangan dapat meningkat.

“Kalau pelabuhannya bagus, manajemen PELNI dari kapalnya juga lebih mudah, ASDP-nya juga lebih bagus. Semuanya jadi sinkronisasi baik untuk penumpang dan barang, yang selama ini terpisah-pisah,” jelasnya.

Furthermore, Erick said Pelindo would be the holding company after the three state-owned companies were merged.

He said this step was part of the Ministry of SOEs' plan to streamline the number of state-owned companies to 30 companies.

"We have already encouraged (merging Pelni, ASDP and Pelindo). The one who is the Pelindo holding company," he said when met at the BUMN Ministry office, Jakarta, Tuesday, December 17.

Erick said this merger was carried out for the sake of efficiency between companies in order to reduce costs or logistics costs in Indonesia. Including increasing passenger security assets.

"Certainly (the proposed merger will continue), therefore pushing back how the logistics cost can be lower, safety for passengers," he said.

In addition, Erick said that with this merger, it is also hoped that the quality of service starting from ports, ships, and crossing facilities can increase.

"If the port is good, PELNI management from the ship is also easier, the ASDP is also better. Everything is a synchronization for both passengers and goods, which have been separated so far," he explained.