JAKARTA INDONESIA (ISL News) - PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo emphasized that Indonesia needs to take a bigger role in international shipping activities in the Strait of Malacca so that it is not only a country through which ships pass, but also obtains national economic added value from maritime services. This commitment was conveyed by Pelindo President Director, Achmad Muchtasyar, at the Strategic Maritime Forum held to commemorate World Seafarer Day 2026 in Jakarta, Thursday (25/6/2026).
The forum was attended by Deputy Minister of Transportation Suntana, Senior Director of Transportation Danantara Asset Management Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan, Head of the Transportation Policy Agency Inspector General of Police Dr. Capt. Hermanta, and maritime sector stakeholders who discussed strengthening Indonesia's role in the international shipping and logistics ecosystem.
On the occasion, Achmad explained that the Strait of Malacca is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and holds strategic importance for Indonesia. Besides being a key international trade corridor, the region also offers significant opportunities for Indonesia to increase economic value through the provision of integrated maritime services.
"The Strait of Malacca is not just an international shipping lane. For Indonesia, this region is a strategic space to strengthen maritime sovereignty while capturing greater economic value from global trade activities," said Achmad.
According to him, Indonesia needs to strengthen its presence by providing safe, reliable, and competitive maritime services, ranging from pilotage, towing, ship-to-ship transfer, transshipment, floating storage, and various other ship support services. This way, Indonesia will not only become a shipping route but also a vital part of the international logistics and trade chain.
"When global shipping activity passes near our territory, Indonesia cannot simply be a spectator. We must be able to provide robust, reliable, and value-added services for the national interest," Achmad explained.
In addition to providing added economic value, Achmad emphasized that strengthening maritime services also plays a crucial role in improving shipping safety and protecting the marine environment. The high volume of ship traffic in the Strait of Malacca requires sound service management to minimize the risk of accidents, pollution, and potential oil spills that could impact Indonesian waters.
"Strengthening pilotage, tugboat, and other maritime services is not merely a business matter. It also concerns navigational safety, environmental protection, and the state's presence in safeguarding its maritime space," Achmad added.
As part of this effort, Pelindo continues to develop maritime services in strategic areas, one of which is through the operation of the Nipa Transfer Anchorage Area (NTAA) in Nipa Waters, Riau Islands, which began operations in May 2026. These services include ship-to-ship transfers, ship services, and floating storage to support maritime activities around the Strait of Malacca.
"Developing services in the Nipa waters is an important step in strengthening Indonesia's position in international trade and logistics. This is not just about developing the port business, but part of an effort to bring greater economic benefits to Indonesia," Achmad continued.
Achmad also emphasized that strengthening maritime services must go hand in hand with increasing the capacity and role of Indonesian seafarers. He believes that the development of pilotage, towing, ship-to-ship transfer, and various other maritime services will open up greater opportunities for Indonesian seafarers to contribute to the maritime sector, both nationally and internationally.
"Indonesian seafarers possess recognized competence and resilience. Therefore, strengthening the national maritime ecosystem must simultaneously provide opportunities for Indonesian seafarers to take on a greater role, both domestically and in strategic international areas," Achmad said.
Furthermore, Achmad explained that Pelindo is currently strengthening its transformation from a port operator to an end-to-end port and marine ecosystem integrator. This transformation is being realized through strengthening port connectivity, developing maritime services, digitizing services, and integrating ports with industrial areas and the hinterland to support national supply chain efficiency.
According to him, optimizing the potential of the Malacca Strait cannot be done by one party alone, but requires close synergy between the government, regulators, state-owned enterprises, business actors, and the maritime community. This collaboration is key to Indonesia's ability to increase the competitiveness of maritime services while simultaneously gaining greater economic benefits from international shipping activities.
"The Strait of Malacca must be a strategic space that provides the greatest benefits for Indonesia. Through strong collaboration, we can strengthen maritime sovereignty, improve shipping safety, increase the maritime sector's contribution to the national economy, and simultaneously open up more opportunities for Indonesian seafarers to develop," Achmad concluded.
Through the Strategic Maritime Forum in commemoration of World Seafarers Day 2026, Pelindo affirmed its commitment to continue supporting the strengthening of the national maritime ecosystem, increasing the competitiveness of port services, and increasing the contribution of the maritime sector to Indonesia.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Corcom Center).
