Pelindo Labuan Bajo targets more container cargo at Wae Kelambu terminal

Labuan Bajo — The operator of Labuan Bajo’s Multipurpose Terminal at Wae Kelambu is seeking additional containerised cargo to strengthen the port’s role in serving Manggarai Barat and surrounding areas, according to a 2022 industry report quoting Pelindo’s local management. The terminal has handled an average of around 450 container boxes per month, and Pelindo has urged shippers to make greater use of boxes for cargo moving to and from Labuan Bajo.

Pelindo’s local leadership has described container transport as offering better cargo security and more efficient handling compared with non-containerised shipments, while noting that the company is working with shipping lines to offer competitive rates for inbound and outbound cargo. The initiative focuses on building regular demand so that businesses can rely on scheduled container services rather than ad hoc freight movements.

General Manager Dimaz Yuliono has said the company is studying the port’s hinterland — the production and commercial areas of Manggarai Barat — to ensure that goods from the district can be sent to destinations outside the region in containers. Pelindo is also encouraging cargo arriving in Labuan Bajo to use container services where feasible, as part of efforts to consolidate flows at the new terminal.

Reported container traffic and equipment

Figures cited in the 2022 report indicate that container flows at the Multipurpose Terminal were already relatively steady but still below the level Pelindo aims to achieve. From April to December 2021, the terminal handled 4,768 boxes and 4,770 TEUs, followed by 486 boxes and 486 TEUs in January 2022. Taken together, these numbers suggest average throughput of roughly 450 boxes per month over the period from April 2021 through January 2022.

The same report lists the main handling equipment available at the terminal, including one reach stacker and one forklift for yard operations, and two trailer-and-chassis units for moving containers within the facility. These assets support the loading and unloading of container ships alongside general cargo and other logistics activities at Wae Kelambu.

Pelindo has identified three container shipping companies as supporting operations at the Multipurpose Terminal: Meratus, Mentari Mas Multimoda and Tanto. Earlier information released in mid-2021 indicated that three shipping lines were already calling at the new facility, with each line averaging two to three vessel visits per month as container operations ramped up.

Role of the Multipurpose Terminal

The Wae Kelambu Multipurpose Terminal was formally inaugurated in October 2021 and is designated to handle logistics traffic including containers, general cargo and liquid bulk under the Labuan Bajo port master plan. The terminal replaces earlier cargo-handling functions closer to the town and is intended to separate freight activities from the tourism-focused waterfront and cruise facilities.

According to the transport ministry, the terminal’s development is part of a broader effort to improve logistics connectivity to Labuan Bajo and to support economic activity beyond tourism, including the movement of foodstuffs, construction materials and other commodities into and out of Manggarai Barat. Academic analysis of the port relocation has also highlighted potential reductions in shipping and mooring costs for larger vessels, while noting higher inland transport costs as cargo is moved by road between Wae Kelambu and the urban area.

Implications for local businesses

More reliable container services at Labuan Bajo’s Multipurpose Terminal are relevant for businesses that must move goods between western Flores and other parts of Indonesia. Regular services by national shipping lines can help stabilise supply chains for hotels, restaurants and construction projects, although the available reports do not break down volumes by commodity or sector.

Pelindo’s stated strategy is to attract users by positioning containers as an efficient, secure option and by gradually increasing service quality at the terminal. While the reported data confirm throughput levels in 2021 and early 2022 and outline the supporting equipment and shipping lines, they do not provide updated container volumes or detailed information on current routes, schedules or commodity mix beyond that period.

Sources

• T3M Indonesia – "Pelindo Labuan Bajo gaet pasar optimalkan peti kemas"
• Indonesia Water Portal – "Labuan Bajo Port Multipurpose Terminal Ready to Operate"
• Directorate General of Sea Transportation, Ministry of Transportation – "Presiden Resmikan Terminal Multipurpose Wae Kelambu Pelabuhan Labuan Bajo"