SURABAYA INDONESIA (ISL News, 02/02) - PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas has clarified reports of ship queues lasting up to 6 days at several terminals managed by the company, particularly in the Tanjung Perak Port area, Surabaya.
Corporate Secretary of PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas, Widyaswendra, stated that container loading and unloading services at TPK Lamong, TPS Surabaya, TPK Nilam, and TPK Berlian are proceeding according to plan. He noted that there were no significant delays in service that would impact ship docking schedules.
"We ensure that no ships will have to queue for up to six days waiting for service at the container terminal at Tanjung Perak Port," Widyaswendra emphasized on Monday (02/02).
Every vessel operating at the container terminal has a planned arrival schedule or berthing window system. Furthermore, services are provided based on the terminal's operational policies, taking into account facility readiness, safety, site conditions, and the overall smooth flow of vessels.
Container terminals often experience high activity during certain periods, such as around religious holidays. The increased volume of cargo and ship visits often impacts loading and unloading services. Despite these conditions, terminal managers strive to provide optimal service to their customers.
"Waiting for this service can be caused by several factors, including early or late arrival of ships, increased cargo volume during religious holidays, loading and unloading speeds and equipment readiness, and natural factors such as weather or waiting for high tide," said Widyaswendra.
Widyaswendra stated that most ships arrived according to their scheduled arrival times and were able to receive services directly from the container terminal. He acknowledged that some service delays occurred, requiring ships to wait. However, wait times for service still ranged from 15 to 30 hours.
Meanwhile, Widyaswendra stated that the company continues to make continuous improvements to provide better service to its users. He cited the arrival of four new QCC units and 14 rubber-tyred gantries (RTGs) at the Surabaya TPS in 2026. Similarly, the Berlian TPK will receive two QCC units, expected to arrive in mid-2026.
"We acknowledge that we are continuously improving our service. We are making improvements throughout our work area, from Belawan to Merauke," he continued.
Stenven Handry Lesawengan, Chairman of the Surabaya branch of the Indonesian National Shipowners' Association (INSA), stated that his organization had received reports of delays in container loading and unloading at the Berlian Terminal due to equipment insecurity. He stated that he had communicated with the terminal management to address the issues. He noted that the terminal management was open and cooperative in finding the best solution for all parties, and that there had never been a multi-day queue at the container terminal.
"We have several agreements with the terminals in place to ensure that loading and unloading operations can continue in the event of service issues," Stenven said.
Sebastian Wibisono, Chairman of the East Java Regional Executive Board of the Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association (ALFI), has urged terminal managers to upgrade their loading and unloading equipment. He believes the new equipment will improve the quality and speed of container loading and unloading services. Wibisono believes the current equipment is no longer suited to the increasing size of ships and the increasing flow of containers at Tanjung Perak Port.
"We've heard about the plans for new equipment to arrive at the Surabaya TPS. We hope similar measures can be implemented at other container terminals, particularly the Berlian TPK," Wibi said.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Corcom SPTP)..
