The ferry line between port in western Bali and Ketapang port in the Banyuwangi district (East Java) is starting to manage the queues. On July 26, an additional vessel — KMP Gading Nusantara — was transferred from the Surabaya port of Tanjung Perak. This heavy-duty ship can carry up to 40 passenger cars or about 30 trucks; after docking trials at Bulusan pier, it immediately started operating and joined the KMP Portlink that was already running there.
The impact was felt literally within 24 hours: by the morning of July 27, the waiting lines had shrunk from nearly 30 km to 1.3–2 km. Currently, 26 vessels are on duty on the route, making eight round trips every day. Nineteen ferries are operating at the pier with a movable bridge; seven more, designed for trucks weighing over 35 tons, are docking at the LCM pier.
The state ferry company PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry emphasizes that the entire fleet has passed seaworthiness inspections. Old LCT-type barges remain in service but with strict limits: a maximum of six trucks without passengers, two lifeboats, and life jackets for every seat.
It should be noted that on the evening of July 2, off the coast of Bali, the ferry KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, which was traveling from Ketapang port to Gilimanuk port in Bali, sank approximately half an hour after departure. On board were 53 passengers and 12 crew members, along with 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks.
Until September 24, the Gumitir mountain route in Java remains closed, so all traffic is forced to pass through Banyuwangi to the ferry. Additional vessels are already noticeably easing the road traffic and helping to restore the connection between Java and Bali to its usual schedule.
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