Pelindo speeds Maumere recovery as NTT ports resume after August quake
Pelindo says most of its ports in East Nusa Tenggara resumed normal operations soon after the 15 August 2026 earthquake, while Maumere’s Laurens Say port remains under partial restrictions as passenger and Ro-Ro facilities undergo…
By Pandi Muktar
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 3 min read
Labuan Bajo — Port operator Pelindo says most of its facilities in East Nusa Tenggara have returned to normal operations following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the province on Saturday, 15 August 2026, with Maumere port remaining under partial restrictions while recovery work continues.
The company reported that ports at Labuan Bajo, Ende Ippi, Waingapu, Kupang and Kalabahi were operating without major disruption shortly after the quake, while Maumere in Sikka Regency required accelerated repairs and safety checks at one of its passenger berths.
Ports back to normal
According to Pelindo’s post-quake assessment, Labuan Bajo and Ende Ippi on Flores Island experienced temporary power outages on the morning of 15 August but had resumed normal services soon afterwards.
The same update said Waingapu on Sumba, Kupang in West Timor and Kalabahi on Alor Island reported only minor impacts, with loading and unloading activities and vessel calls continuing as usual.
Pelindo stated that field inspections found most port facilities across the province could operate safely, supporting the movement of passengers and cargo between islands after the quake.
Maumere as a recovery focus
By contrast, Maumere’s Laurens Say port suffered more significant damage to passenger facilities and the berth used by roll-on/roll-off vessels.
National and regional assessments describe Maumere as one of the port locations most affected by the quake. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and other officials reported medium-level damage at Maumere port, alongside impacts at Labuan Bajo, with shaking in those areas reaching around VI–VII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale.
Pelindo said the berth that normally serves Ro-Ro and passenger ships at Maumere was not yet usable because debris and material from damaged facilities remained in the manoeuvring area and alongside the berth.
The operator is coordinating with the Indonesian Navy, police and local authorities to clear the area, stabilise structures and complete safety inspections before restoring passenger services.
While the dedicated Ro-Ro and passenger berth is closed, Pelindo and state-run shipping company Pelni have adjusted operations so that scheduled vessels can continue calling at Maumere. Pelni stated that ships to and from Maumere would temporarily use Berth 2 instead of Berth 4, allowing embarkation and disembarkation to proceed with modified procedures.
Pelindo emphasised that container handling at Maumere remains normal, meaning the container terminal continues to support cargo flows despite the restrictions on the passenger berth.
Operational snapshot after the quake
Government transport officials confirmed that the earthquake damaged part of the Laurens Say passenger terminal and sections of the berth structure at Maumere, and caused cracks to port facilities at Labuan Bajo’s marina.
The Directorate General of Sea Transportation instructed that any port infrastructure showing cracks, deformation or signs of structural damage must remain out of service until technical inspections confirm it is safe, covering berths, passenger terminals, power supply and navigation access.
Emergency teams from the Navy and other agencies were deployed to Maumere shortly after the quake to secure the port area, monitor potential aftershocks and support restoration of safe operations.
As of mid-August, Pelindo’s statements and local media reports depict a gradual normalisation of port activity across East Nusa Tenggara, with Maumere standing out as the main pressure point where passenger and Ro-Ro services are limited until clearance and structural checks are completed.
Sources
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