Realization of 2023, Makassar Port Records Passenger Flow to Grow 122.58%

MAKASSAR, February 13, 2024 - Makassar Port was again listed as the busiest and most populous port throughout 2023, especially in Regional 4. This condition can be seen from the existing data, where PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Regional 4 Makassar recorded growth above 100%, especially for passenger flow.

General Manager (GM) of Pelindo Regional 4 Makassar, Iwan Sjarifuddin said that until December 2023 his party managed to reap the number of passengers who boarded and disembarked at Makassar Port as many as 916,461 people.

"That number experienced a growth of 122.58% compared to the previous year, where passengers who boarded and disembarked in 2022 were only 747,655 people," Iwan said. Iwan said, the enthusiasm of the public to use sea transportation is still quite high, especially for passengers with destinations to eastern Indonesia. Not only the flow of passengers, he continued, but his party also recorded an average growth of above 100% for the flow of ship visits or calls and the flow of non-containerized goods.

In 2023, Pelindo Regional 4 Makassar, which manages the Port of Makassar, managed to record a ship call of 36,865,444 GT (Gross Tonnage, a measure that indicates the size of the ship's volume). This figure experienced a growth of 111.28% compared to the previous year's realization. As for the flow of non-containerized goods, Iwan said that his party recorded a realization in 2023 of 3,251,043 tons/m3. "It grew by 116.77% compared to the previous year's realization," he said.

Andy Hermawan, Junior Manager of Law and Public Relations of Pelindo Regional 4 Makassar added that the growth in the number of passengers was allegedly triggered by the Eid al-Fitr homecoming moment, and coupled with the Christmas and New Year holidays which always occur every year.

"We all know that Lebaran homecoming is always a moment awaited by almost all Indonesians, especially those who celebrate Eid so that the number of passengers always increases or experiences significant growth," explained Andy.

For the Christmas and New Year holidays, he continued, it is also often used by migrants from eastern Indonesia to return to their respective hometowns to celebrate their big holidays with their beloved families.

In terms of services, according to Andy, his party always tries to provide optimal and maximum services and facilities. For example, for the passenger terminal, the capacity is quite large, which is up to approximately 4,000 people.

Service standards at Makassar Port are also like airports, where Pelindo Regional 4 Makassar also prepares garbarata, which is a bridge that connects the passenger waiting room with the ship's door. "The ship passengers' belongings will also be checked using x-ray before entering the waiting room," said Andy.

To make prospective ship passengers feel safer and more comfortable, Pelindo Regional 4 Makassar has also provided a Temporary Waiting Room (RTS) for transit passengers. "In addition, we have also prepared various other standard facilities, such as wifi, clean toilets, breastfeeding rooms, and prayer rooms," concluded Andy.