SURABAYA (ISL news) - PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas (SPTP) recorded container flows in the first semester of 2024 at 5.84 million TEUs. This number grew by around 6 percent compared to the same period in 2023 which was recorded at 5.51 million TEUs. Corporate Secretary of PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas Widyaswendra said the container flow consisted of 1.83 million TEUs of international containers and 4.01 million TEUs of domestic containers.
"International containers grew by around 5.76 percent compared to the first semester of 2023 and domestic containers grew by around 6 percent compared to the previous year," explained Widyaswendra, Tuesday (23/07/2024).
The growth of container flow is influenced by several factors, for example, in the subsidiary of TPS Surabaya, at the terminal, international container ship visits reached 492 ship visits from the planned 465 ship visits. Likewise, with domestic container ship visits, in the first semester of 2024, it was planned to be 88 ship visits, but 117 ship visits were realized.
A similar thing also happened at Kaltim Kariangau Terminal (KKT) where there was an increase in container flow related to the needs of the development of the Indonesian Capital City (IKN). Container flow at KKT grew by around 21 percent from 96 thousand TEUs in semester 1 of 2023 to 117 thousand TEUs in semester 1 of 2024.
"We are targeting container flows during 2024 of 12 million TEUs and we are optimistic that this target can be achieved in line with the increase in container flows in the first semester of 2024," added Widyaswendra.
The Director of The National Maritime Institute (Namarin) Siswanto Rusdi, said that the containerization effort could be one of PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas' (SPTP) efforts to increase the growth of container flows. Not only that, to support the containerization effort, SPTP needs to make improvements in a number of ports, especially in eastern Indonesia.
On the other hand, efforts to increase the flow of foreign containers can be done by providing a terminal that functions as a transshipment hub. However, Siswanto assessed that a comprehensive study is needed with all parties including the government. The existence of a strong ecosystem starting from bunker facilities, anchorage locations, financial and payment systems, ship guidance and delays, and other things are very much needed in realizing the dreamed international transshipment hub.
"It is time for Pelindo to expand its container terminal management portfolio to show that Indonesia is capable. If Pelindo dominates the market share domestically, it would be better if it could expand internationally, at least in Southeast Asia," Siswanto concluded.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Corcom SPTP/email:islnewstv@gmail.com).
