Indonesia’s Busiest Port: Makassar Serves 399 Thousand Passengers in 2024

PT PELNI (Persero) has recorded Makassar Port as the busiest port in the PELNI network throughout 2024, with a total of 399,028 passengers.

Press Release
PT PELNI (Persero)
No: 27.01/08/PR-KC/I/2025

Indonesia’s Busiest Port: Makassar Serves 399 Thousand Passengers in 2024

Makassar, January 27, 2025 – PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia or PT PELNI (Persero) has recorded Makassar Port as the busiest port in the PELNI network throughout 2024, with a total of 399,028 passengers. This figure represents an increase of 103% compared to 2023, which recorded 387,022 passengers.

The ports following Makassar in terms of passenger volume in 2024 were Ambon (301,683), Bau-Bau (258,982), Surabaya (234,379), and Tanjung Priok (204,522).

Acting Head of PELNI Makassar Branch, Robby Munardi, explained that this increase in passengers was achieved despite operational challenges. "One of the challenges we faced was the suspension of KM Umsini’s operations due to a fire in mid-2024, which temporarily affected service capacity. However, we continued to ensure smooth operations and meet passenger needs," said Robby.

This positive achievement encourages PELNI to continue maintaining its fleet to ensure passenger safety and comfort. In this regard, PELNI Makassar plays a key role in maintaining service quality by facilitating an efficient boarding and arrival process.

Robby also highlighted that Makassar has long been a strategic port connecting the western, central, and eastern regions of Indonesia. For this reason, PELNI strives to maintain the performance of its passenger vessels to serve the people of Makassar and surrounding areas optimally.

PELNI’s Director of Passenger Transportation Business, Dessy Nuraini, also emphasized the importance of Makassar Port in PELNI’s operational ecosystem. "Makassar is not only the busiest port but also the backbone of our passenger transportation services in Eastern Indonesia. We are committed to strengthening services at this port by enhancing service quality and facilities for passenger comfort," said Dessy.

As one of the major cities in Eastern Indonesia, Makassar serves key routes to various regions, including Papua, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Java. This port is a vital hub for both public mobility and logistics distribution.

With the positive performance in 2024, PELNI Makassar is highly optimistic about serving more passengers in 2025. PELNI aims to strengthen interregional connectivity, introduce new service innovations, and ensure its fleet is well-maintained to meet public needs.

Following the directives from the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, PELNI remains optimistic about 2025, committed to strengthening its role as Indonesia’s primary maritime transportation provider and enhancing digital ticketing services.

Passenger Ships Docking at Makassar in 2025

1. KM Bukit Siguntang

   • Route A (Round Trip): Makassar – Pare-Pare – Balikpapan – Tarakan – Nunukan
   • Route B (Round Trip): Makassar – Maumere – Lewoleba – Kupang

2. KM Nggapulu

   • Route A (Round Trip): Makassar – Bau-Bau – Namlea – Ambon – Ternate – Jailolo – Bitung
   • Route B (Round Trip): Makassar – Surabaya – Tanjung Priok – Batam – Belawan

3. KM Dorolonda

   • Route (Round Trip): Ambon – Namlea – Bau-Bau – Makassar – Surabaya – Balikpapan – Pantoloan – Bitung – Ternate – Sorong – Manokwari – Nabire – Serui – Jayapura

4. KM Binaiya

   • Route A (Round Trip): Kupang – Ende – Waingapu – Bima – Benoa – Bima – Labuan Bajo – Makassar – Pare-Pare – Bontang
   • Route B (Round Trip): Makassar – Awerange – Bontang – Pare-Pare

5. KM Ciremai

   • Route (Round Trip): Tanjung Priok – Surabaya – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Ambon – Sorong – Serui – Jayapura

6. KM Sinabung

   • Route A (Round Trip): Wasior – Manokwari – Sorong – Bacan – Ternate – Bitung – Banggai – Bau-Bau – Makassar – Surabaya
   • Route B (Round Trip): Surabaya – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Banggai – Bitung – Ternate – Bacan – Sorong – Manokwari – Jayapura

7. KM Lambelu

   • Route A (Round Trip): Bau-Bau – Makassar – Pare-Pare – Balikpapan – Pantoloan – Tarakan – Nunukan
   • Route B (Round Trip): Makassar – Bau-Bau – Maumere – Larantuka

8. KM Wilis

   • Route (Round Trip): Batulicin – Makassar – Labuan Bajo – Bima – Waikelo – Waingapu – Ende – Kupang – Kalabahi

9. KM Tilongkabila

   • Route (Round Trip): Bitung – Gorontalo – Luwuk – Kendari – Raha – Bau-Bau – Makassar – Labuan Bajo – Bima – Lembar – Benoa

10. KM Dobonsolo

• Route A (Round Trip): Makassar – Surabaya – Tanjung Priok
• Route B (Round Trip): Makassar – Bau-Bau – Sorong – Manokwari

11. KM Leuser

• Route A: Agats – Timika – Dobo – Tual – Saumlaki – Ambon – Namrole – Wanci – Bau-Bau – Makassar – Labuan Bajo – Bima – Benoa – Surabaya

12. KM Tidar

• Route A (Round Trip): Bau-Bau – Makassar – Surabaya – Tanjung Priok – Kijang
• Route B (Round Trip): Makassar – Bau-Bau – Maumere – Larantuka – Lewoleba – Kupang

13. KM Gunung Dempo

• Route A (Round Trip): Jayapura – Nabire – Wasior – Manokwari – Sorong – Makassar – Surabaya – Tanjung Priok
• Route B (Round Trip): Makassar – Ambon – Sorong – Manokwari – Wasior – Nabire – Jayapura

14. KM Labobar

• Route A (Round Trip): Bau-Bau – Namlea – Ambon – Banda – Tual – Dobo – Kaimana – Fak-Fak – Sorong – Manokwari – Nabire
• Route B (Round Trip): Tanjung Priok – Surabaya – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Ambon – Banda – Tual – Dobo – Kaimana

About PELNI

As a State-Owned Enterprise in the shipping sector, PELNI currently operates 25 passenger ships, serving 511 routes with 1,359 sub-routes and stopping at 74 ports.

In addition to passenger transportation, PELNI operates 30 pioneer ship routes that provide accessibility for residents in remote, underdeveloped, and border areas (3TP), visiting 230 ports with a total of 522 routes. PELNI also operates 18 redeployment vessels. For logistics business services, PELNI currently operates 8 sea toll routes and one dedicated livestock ship route.

For information and inquiries, please contact:

Ditto Pappilanda
Corporate Communications Manager
PT PELNI (Persero)
Phone: +62 21 - 6334342 ext. 1310