PELNI Offers Free Transport for NTT Earthquake Relief Aid

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com—PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Persero), or PELNI, is offering free transportation for humanitarian aid to people affected by the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Hana Suhardi, PELNI’s Director of Freight and Sea Toll Transportation and chair of the company’s NTT Relief Aid Post, said individuals, organizations, communities and institutions can send relief supplies aboard PELNI passenger ships on their regular routes.

“PELNI is providing free access for aid shipments to make it easier to distribute assistance. We are ready to utilize PELNI’s shipping network to help accelerate the distribution of humanitarian supplies to affected areas,” Hana said on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026.

The relief supplies accepted by PELNI include food and basic necessities, bottled drinking water, tents, tarpaulins, blankets, bedding, lighting equipment, medicines and medical supplies, diapers for children and adults, sanitary pads, infant formula and baby food.

The first shipment will be transported aboard KM Tidar, which is scheduled to depart from Surabaya at 10 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. Further shipments will be carried by other PELNI vessels according to their respective routes and sailing schedules.

Hana said all aid shipments must follow the routes and ports served by PELNI vessels. As a result, the final destination of each shipment must correspond to the vessel’s available route.

Shippers must provide an official covering letter from an organization, community or institution, as well as a packing list detailing the type and quantity of the donated goods.

All relief supplies must be properly and securely packed in cardboard boxes, sacks or sturdy crates suitable for the type of goods being shipped. Fragile items must be clearly marked “FRAGILE” or with other appropriate handling instructions, he said.

PELNI does not accept explosive or flammable materials, liquids or hazardous substances, toxic chemicals, goods prohibited under applicable laws and regulations, or items that could endanger the safety of vessels, crew members, passengers or other cargo.

Further information about the relief aid program and vessel schedules is available from the nearest PELNI branch office, PELNI Contact Center at 021-162, or PELNI’s official WhatsApp number at 0811-1621-162.

PELNI currently operates 84 vessels, comprising 26 passenger ships, 30 pioneer vessels, 18 rede vessels, nine sea toll vessels and one livestock carrier. The company’s operations are supported by 43 branch offices serving 357 ports of call through 1,111 shipping routes, as well as 306 terminal points across Indonesia.