MAKASSAR (ISL News, February 25, 2026) – PT Pelindo Jasa Maritim (SPJM) has once again demonstrated its commitment and commitment to improving the safety and security of its operations in the Mahakam River waters. This time, SPJM has installed two devices: a Port Entry Light (PEL) and a sensor to monitor water conditions around the Mahakam Bridge.
The PEL (Lighting Beacon) was installed in September 2024. It is a high-intensity navigation beacon system used to guide ships into ports or shipping lanes, specifically under bridges, mark safe passages, or highlight hazards, particularly at night or in low visibility. This device is expected to prevent and minimize incidents, indicate shipping lanes, determine position and direction, and identify channel edges.
"We have conducted some research and Port Entry Lights (PEL) are indeed widely used in busy international ports, have narrow shipping channels, or have heavy traffic. These lights are a crucial safety standard for guiding ships into the port safely, both day and night. The characteristics of underbridge guidance services in the Mahakam River are indeed quite challenging, so we took the initiative to install PEL as an effort to make it easier for ship captains and pilots to know their position on the correct lane so that they can pass safely," explained Edward DN Napitupulu, Director of Operations and Engineering SPJM.
SPJM has also installed a water monitoring sensor device around the Mahakam and Mahulu bridges in January 2026, this tool functions to provide information on river current speed conditions and the distance between the water surface to the Mahakam Bridge structure (Bridge clearance) and is connected to a display monitor installed on the Mahakam Bridge railing. In addition, a load height sensor in the form of a laser range finder has been installed at the guide station near the Mahulu bridge . All of these sensors can be monitored via the Bridge sensor monitoring dashboard ( Web Based ) which can provide actual information (every 1 minute) regarding the current speed around the Mahakam Bridge, Bridge clearance (Distance from Bridge Construction to River Water Surface) and provide an "alert" notification if there is a ship load exceeding the limit specified by regulations.
Edward explained, "This sensor will be very helpful in providing information to pilots and captains when piloting ships accurately, safely, and efficiently, especially during maneuvering. The presence of this sensor and monitoring device will also provide high situational awareness for ship captains and pilots, ensuring navigation in the confined waters, namely the space under the Mahakam bridge, so that it can be carried out safely, orderly, and smoothly."
Sailing safety is the primary and ultimate goal, so SPJM continues to be committed to making continuous improvements.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Corcom SPJM).
