Press Release
PT PELNI (Persero)
No: 21.01/06/PR/I/2025
Eleven Passenger Ships Undergo Route Modifications, PELNI Faces Challenges of Aging Fleet and Private Sector Competition
Jakarta, January 21, 2025 – PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia, or PT PELNI (Persero), has announced route modifications for eleven passenger ships in 2025. These adjustments, aimed at optimizing routes, are driven by the aging fleet and increasing competition from private operators.
PELNI’s Corporate Secretary, Evan Eryanto, stated that eleven passenger ships will undergo route changes. "All route modifications have been acknowledged and approved by the government, specifically the Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia, as outlined in the PSO vessel assignment contract for the 2025 fiscal year," Evan explained.
Evan elaborated that, starting this year, KM Lawit will take over the route previously serviced by KM Kelimutu, and vice versa. The decision was made considering KM Kelimutu’s age, which has reached 40 years this year.
“This year, Kelimutu, along with Umsini and Lawit, all turn 40. However, operationally, Lawit remains capable of handling voyages exceeding seven days, while Kelimutu requires more attention. Hence, we decided to swap routes between Lawit and Kelimutu,” Evan explained.
Additional route rotations involve KM Labobar, which will now service KM Nggapulu’s route; KM Nggapulu, which will take over KM Dorolonda’s route; KM Dorolonda, which will assume KM Labobar’s route; and KM Tidar, which will cover KM Umsini’s route.
Evan noted that since KM Umsini ceased operations, KM Tidar has been handling its route. This shift has left KM Nggapulu to accommodate high passenger demand previously managed by KM Umsini.
"Given the significant increase in passenger numbers for KM Nggapulu, which now handles KM Umsini’s passengers, we’ve reassigned KM Labobar, with a capacity of 3,000 passengers, to KM Nggapulu’s route, which can only accommodate 2,000 passengers," Evan said.
In addition to passenger ships, PELNI’s sole Ro-Ro vessel, KM Egon, will also experience route changes. The decision for KM Egon’s route adjustment is largely due to competitive pressures from private operators in the previous year.
Details of the 2025 Route Modifications for PELNI Passenger Ships:
KM Nggapulu
Previous Route (2024)
Tanjung Priok - Surabaya – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Ambon - Banda - Tual - Dobo - Kaimana - Fak Fak (PP)
New Route (2025)
Tanjung Priok – Surabaya – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Namlea – Ambon – Ternate – Jailolo – Bitung (PP)
KM Dobonsolo
Previous Route (2024)
Tg Priok - Surabaya - Makassar - Bau Bau - Ambon - Sorong - Serui - Jayapura (PP)
New Route (2025)
Trayek A: Tg Priok - Surabaya - Makassar - Bau Bau - Sorong- Manokwari - Biak - Jayapura (PP)
Trayek B: Tg Priok - Surabaya - Makassar - Bau Bau - Sorong- Manokwari (PP)
KM Lawit
Previous Route (2024)
Trayek A: Tanjung Priok - Tanjung Pandan – Pontianak - Semarang – Kumai (PP)
Trayek B: Tanjung Priok – Tanjung Pandan – Pontianak – Semarang – Kumai – Surabaya – Batulicin (PP)
New Route (2025)
Trayek A: Kumai – Surabaya – Sampit – Semarang – Kumai – Semarang – Karimun Jawa – Semarang – Sampit – Surabaya – Kumai
Trayek B: Kumai – Surabaya – Benoa – Bima – Waingapu – Ende – Kalabahi – Kupang – Rote –(PP)
KM Ciremai
Previous Route (2024)
Tg Priok - Surabaya - Makassar - Bau Bau - Sorong - Manokwari - Biak - Jayapura (PP)
New Route (2025)
Tg Priok - Surabaya - Makassar - Bau Bau - Ambon - Sorong - Serui - Jayapura (PP)
KM Dorolonda
Previous Route (2024)
Tanjung Priok – Surabaya – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Namlea – Ambon – Ternate – Jailolo – Bitung (PP)
New Route (2025)
Trayek A: Surabaya – Balikpapan – Pantoloan – Bitung – Ternate – Sorong – Manokwari – Nabire – Serui – Jayapura (PP)
Trayek B: Surabaya – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Namlea – Ambon - Sorong – Manokwari – Nabire – Waren – Jayapura (PP)
KM Kelimutu
Previous Route (2024)
Surabaya – Kumai - Surabaya - Sampit – Semarang – Kumai – Semarang – Karimun Jawa – Semarang – Sampit – Surabaya
New Route (2025)
Trayek A: Tanjung Priok - Tanjung Pandan – Pontianak - Semarang – Kumai – Semarang – Pontianak (PP)
Trayek B: Tanjung Priok – Tanjung Pandan – Pontianak – Semarang – Kumai – Surabaya – Batulicin (PP)
KM Labobar
Previous Route (2024)
Trayek A: Surabaya - Balikpapan - Pantoloan - Bitung - Ternate - Sorong - Manokwari - Nabire - Serui - Jayapura (PP)
Trayek B: Jakarta - Surabaya - Makassar - Bau Bau - Namlea - Ambon - Sorong - Manokwari - Nabire - Serui - Jayapura
New Route (2025)
Tanjung Priok – Surabaya – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Ambon – Banda – Tual – Dobo – Kaimana – Fak-Fak – Kaimana – Dobo – Tual – Banda – Ambon – Bau-Bau
– Makassar – Surabaya – Tanjung Priok
KM Egon
Previous Route (2024)
Waingapu – Lembar – Waingapu - Lembar - Surabaya – Batulicin – Pare Pare – Bontang (PP)
New Route (2025)
Waingapu – Lembar – Surabaya – Batulicin – Pare Pare – Bontang – Pare-Pare – Bontang (PP)
KM Tidar
Previous Route (2024)
Makassar - Bau Bau - Namlea - Ambon - Tual - Dobo - Kaimana - Fak Fak - Sorong - Manokwari - Nabire - Wasior - Manokwari (PP)
New Route (2025)
Kijang - Tanjung Priok - Surabaya - Makassar - Bau Bau - Maumere - Larantuka - Lewoleba - Kupang (PP)
KM Sirimau
Previous Route (2024)
Manokwari - Sorong - Ambon - Wanci - Bau Bau - Maumere - Lewoleba - Kupang - Kalabahi - Saumlaki -Tual - Dobo - Timika - Agats - Merauke (PP)
New Route (2025)
Sorong - Ambon - Wanci - Bau Bau - Maumere - Lewoleba - Kupang - Kalabahi - Saumlaki -Tual - Dobo - Timika - Agats - Merauke (PP)
KFC Jet Liner
Previous Route (2024)
Kendari - Wanci - Kendari - Raha (PP)
New Route (2025)
Kendari - Wanci - Kendari - Wanci - Kendari - Raha (PP)
In light of these changes, Evan expressed hope that this information would reach the public, allowing them to adjust their travel plans accordingly. "We hope these adjustments have minimal impact on the public’s activities. We encourage our customers to purchase tickets through official channels, particularly via digital platforms," Evan emphasized.
In alignment with the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises’ directives, PELNI continues to expand its ticket sales and payment channels to enhance public access and options.
About PELNI
PELNI, as a State-Owned Enterprise engaged in shipping services, currently operates 25 passenger vessels, serving 511 routes with 1,359 sub-routes, and stopping at 74 ports.
In addition to passenger transport, PELNI operates 30 pioneer ship routes, facilitating mobility in 3TP regions. These ships dock at 230 ports, covering a total of 522 sub-routes. PELNI also manages 18 rede vessels. For logistics services, PELNI operates 8 maritime toll routes and one dedicated livestock ship route.
For further information and inquiries, please contact:
Ditto Pappilanda
Corporate Communications Manager
PT PELNI (Persero)
Phone: +62 21-6334342 ext. 1310
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