Aceh restarts international Ro-Ro ferry project to Penang following catastrophic floods
The Aceh provincial government is reviving plans for a Roll-on/Roll-off shipping route between Krueng Geukueh Port and Penang, Malaysia, after the project was suspended due to devastating flash floods in November 2025 that killed over 969 people and affected more than 3 million across Sumatra.
Aceh revives Ro-Ro shipping route to Penang after flood suspension
The Aceh provincial government is resuming efforts to establish a Roll-on/Roll-off shipping route connecting Krueng Geukueh Port in North Aceh to Penang, Malaysia, following a suspension caused by catastrophic flash floods that struck the region in November 2025.
The floods, triggered by a rare tropical cyclone in the Malacca Strait, resulted in over 969 deaths and 252 missing persons, affecting more than 3 million people across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra provinces. During the disaster, several bridges in Bireuen District collapsed, severing road access to North Aceh District and Lhokseumawe, which made Krueng Geukueh Port the central hub for distributing relief supplies by sea.
Head of the Aceh Provincial Transportation Office T. Faisal announced on Saturday that one of the primary agendas is expediting the drafting of a gubernatorial regulation to appoint PT Pembangunan Aceh (PEMA) as the operator of the Ro-Ro service. PEMA is a provincial-owned enterprise established in 1994, focusing on sectors including oil and gas, mining, construction, transportation, and tourism.
The international shipping route was initially scheduled to launch in late 2025 to facilitate the transportation of goods and passengers. The priority program, initiated by Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, has now been revived for immediate implementation.
Operational flexibility and government oversight
Faisal noted that appointing the regional-owned enterprise would provide greater flexibility in implementing the program, allowing the company to collaborate with businesses and investors through various schemes. At the same time, the Aceh government will retain control over strategic aspects, including tariffs, sailing schedules, and cargo prioritization.
The Transportation Office will provide financial support in the form of grants or capital injections to support PT PEMA's assignment. Faisal said his office is currently waiting for PT PEMA to submit a proposal on vessel procurement, specifying whether the ships will be leased or purchased. The proposal is expected to be submitted no later than August 31, 2026.
In August 2025, the Penang Port Commission and Aceh government reached a consensus on the ferry route proposal. Discussions indicated that initial operations would involve passengers and cargo only, not vehicles, using a 59-meter passenger ferry with 200-passenger capacity and a cargo ship with 100-tonne capacity.
Strategic location and infrastructure readiness
The proposed route will connect two locations separated by approximately 405 kilometers across the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Krueng Geukueh Port features a 268-meter long pier constructed after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, opened for general public cargo in 2009, with capacity to accommodate vessels up to 15,000 deadweight tonnes and operated by Pelindo I.
Faisal emphasized that the office is coordinating with the Transportation Ministry to encourage the commencement of bilateral negotiations between Indonesia and Malaysia on Aceh-Penang Ro-Ro connectivity. This initiative is part of broader bilateral transportation connectivity efforts between the two countries, which include the Dumai-Malacca route, discussed for over 10 years as a priority project in the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, and the Batam-Johor route.
Economic benefits and trade potential
The Aceh-Penang route is intended to support exports of key Aceh commodities including Gayo Arabica coffee, tuna, patchouli oil, cloves, and betel nuts, aiming to boost trade, tourism, and cross-border economic ties between the two regions.
Acting Aceh Regional Secretary Taufik said the provincial administration would ensure that all operational aspects progress simultaneously so that the route can be launched promptly. These aspects include regulations, vessels, ports, customs, immigration, quarantine services, and cargo readiness.
Taufik concluded that the government will immediately communicate with the Transportation Ministry and relevant stakeholders at the Home Affairs Ministry regarding mechanisms for grants, subsidies, or capital injections, as well as conduct consultations to secure recommendations for the issuance of the gubernatorial regulation.