The issue of trash on Bali’s beaches remains pressing, especially during the rainy season, when rivers carry waste into the ocean, only for it to wash up along the shore. The Indonesian military believes it can help address this challenge. At the Bali Ocean Days 2025 forum, Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhoyana announced that the armed forces have introduced innovative pontoon boats designed to collect waste in coastal areas and river estuaries.
“Our pontoons are already in use on rivers and lakes, but in Bali, they will be deployed at river mouths to intercept trash, as well as within a 100-meter radius from the shore. While their capacity is lower than that of larger vessels, they are perfectly suited for this task,” the general explained.
Each 6-meter-long pontoon boat is equipped with a conveyor system that collects floating waste as the vessel moves. The trash is then lifted onto the boat and stored in a special container. Once full, the boat returns to shore, where the waste is transferred to trucks for disposal.
General Wahyu emphasized that a full fleet of such boats will be needed for a lasting solution. However, he remains confident that with serious commitment, these vessels can help clean up both the coastal waters and the rivers—the main sources of pollution.
The first batch of these pontoon boats began production in 2024. Now, the Bali Ocean Days organizers and the military are seeking sponsors to fund large-scale manufacturing. The goal is to produce 100 pontoons for Bali and hundreds more for other Indonesian islands. “We are ready to build as many as needed. This is not a business—this is about protecting our waters,” Wahyu stressed.
Bali Ocean Days co-founder Pascal Philip added that, while the 2024 conference focused on awareness and education, the 2025 edition is about taking real action.
“It’s no longer just about discussions—we need to develop technologies that can actually solve the waste problem. We will be working closely with the military to speed up pontoon production at the Bandung factory,” he stated.
It’s clear that ocean waste is a major challenge, but it is not unsolvable. Initiatives like deploying pontoon boats offer a real chance to make a difference. Now, the real question is—how soon will these boats be seen in full force along Bali’s shores?
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