Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry crossing paralyzed by truck driver protests

Severe traffic congestion has paralyzed the Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry crossing between Java and Bali. On Saturday night, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, 2026, vehicle queues at Gilimanuk Port reached lengths of up to 10 kilometers, extending into the West Bali National Park area and local residential neighborhoods.

The disruption was triggered by a blockade and protests by logistics truck drivers at Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi. The protests were a response to cargo weight restrictions imposed by ferry authorities to ensure safety following bad weather warnings issued by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). Additionally, ongoing repairs to the Movable Bridge 2 at Gilimanuk Port have contributed to the bottleneck.

The congestion caused significant operational losses for logistics drivers and forced large trucks to enter narrow residential alleys to find shortcuts. In response to the emergency, the Jembrana Police deployed combined personnel from traffic and security units to secure the queueing routes and manage the flow of vehicles.