Truck Driver Protest Paralyzes Ketapang Port, Causing 7km+ Traffic Jam at Bali's Gilimanuk Port
On the evening of September 26, 2026, hundreds of truck drivers staged a protest that completely halted operations at Ketapang Port in East Java. The disruption spread to Bali's Gilimanuk Port, causing traffic queues exceeding 7 kilometers that had not fully cleared by the afternoon of September 27.
On the evening of Saturday, September 26, 2026, hundreds of logistics truck drivers staged a protest at Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi, East Java, completely halting port loading and unloading operations for more than three hours. The drivers were frustrated by long wait times in scorching heat and what they saw as unfair practices, including private cars and small vehicles occupying the LCM (Landing Craft Machine) dock, which is meant exclusively for large logistics vehicles. The situation was compounded by reduced ferry capacity due to ongoing construction work on the MB II dock at Gilimanuk and dock repairs at Ketapang.
The impact of the protest quickly spread across the Bali Strait to Gilimanuk Port on the Bali side. Logistics vehicles and tourist vehicles attempting to leave Bali were stranded, with queues extending into the forested area near the Java-Bali Strait Crossing Operation Monument. Although the protest in Ketapang subsided by nightfall, the reduction in dock operations meant the traffic backlog cleared very slowly. As of Sunday afternoon, September 27, queues from the Bali side still extended 3.5 km from the port gate, while the queue on the Java side reached 7.8 km north of Grand Watu Dodol (GWD).
Authorities implemented emergency measures at both ports, including lane separation. At Ketapang, a lane split begins 1.5 km before the port entrance, directing large logistics trucks to a buffer zone capable of holding up to 450 vehicles, while private and small vehicles are routed to a separate lane for faster boarding. Port operators are also working to maximize large ferry schedules and reallocate LCM dock usage to prioritize vehicles carrying essential goods.
This type of disruption has occurred multiple times in 2026, reportedly stemming from unresolved structural issues: reduced transport capacity from dock renovation projects, perceived unfairness in vehicle prioritization, and persistent queue-jumping.
Things to Consider
If you are planning to cross from Bali to Java via the Gilimanuk-Ketapang ferry, expect significant delays and consider departing much earlier than usual or postponing your trip until conditions stabilize. Impact on Denpasar airport flights is limited, but if you're traveling overland by bus or rental car toward Java, check local traffic updates from Polres Jembrana or ASDP beforehand, follow officers' instructions, and avoid attempting to cut into queues. Given that similar disruptions have recurred multiple times in 2026, consider alternative options such as flying instead of the ferry if your schedule is time-sensitive.
Source: AFU.id