Concentration, Capacity and Constraint: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Cargo Handling Performance at Ciwandan Port, Banten, Indonesia

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FORMOSA NEWS - Banten - Equipment Reliability and Berth Bottlenecks Limit Cargo Operations at Indonesia’s Ciwandan Port, Study Finds. Researchers Kusharyanto, Agus Widodo, Rob Danang Priatmaja, and Sandy Wahyu Purnomo from Politeknik Pelayaran Banten evaluated cargo handling performance at Ciwandan Port in Banten, Indonesia, analyzing operational data and field insights gathered between May and November 2025. Published in the Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences in August 2026, the peer-reviewed study evaluated 289 vessel calls totaling over 2.6 million tonnes of cargo. The findings provide essential insight into operational constraints at multipurpose ports, where equipment downtime and unequal berth workloads limit efficiency in regional logistics.

Operational Context and Relevance
Seaports act as crucial hubs connecting maritime transport with landside supply chains. Efficient cargo transfers directly impact national economic competitiveness, particularly in archipelagic nations where logistics costs traditionally represent a significant share of gross domestic product. Located in Cilegon, Ciwandan Port serves as a primary logistical gateway for the industrial hinterland of Banten Province. Unlike container terminals that follow standardized handling routines, multipurpose terminals like Ciwandan accommodate a diverse range of non-containerized cargo across shared quays, including liquid bulk, dry bulk, general cargo, and vehicles. Optimizing these facilities requires distinct management strategies because equipment, labor, and storage areas must be continuously reconfigured for different vessel types.

Research Methodology

The authors used a convergent mixed-methods research design, integrating quantitative datasets with qualitative field observations. The quantitative analysis examined the port’s official vessel call register from January through September 2025, tracking 289 vessel calls accounting for a combined throughput of 2,626,613 tonnes. The qualitative component comprised field observations of stevedoring and cargodoring activities alongside semi-structured interviews conducted with operational personnel at PT Pelabuhan Indonesia Regional 2 Banten. Researchers synthesized operational metrics with practitioner testimony to compare reported field bottlenecks against recorded cargo distribution patterns.

Key Operational Findings
The study highlighted significant operational disparities across berths and identified primary equipment bottlenecks affecting port capacity:

• Concentration of Cargo Volume: Berth 05 handled 70.8% of total port throughput (1,859,511 tonnes) across its three sub-berths (05 A, 05 B, and 05 C) from 147 vessel calls.
  
• Berth Utilization Mismatches: Berth 04 absorbed 22.5% of all vessel calls (65 calls) but contributed only 7.9% of total tonnage (207,484 tonnes) due to smaller parcel sizes. Berth 06 remained virtually inactive throughout the study period, recording only a single call of 415 tonnes.
  
• Disparity in Parcel Sizes: Mean parcel size varied nearly sevenfold across berths, ranging from 3,192 tonnes per call at Berth 04 to 21,870 tonnes per call at Berth 05 B.
  
• Diverse Cargo Mix: Non-coal dry bulk commodities (such as wheat and minerals) made up the largest share of throughput at 29.9%, followed by general cargo steel products (23.6%), dry bulk coal (15.9%), and liquid bulk (12.5%).
  
• Aging Infrastructure Constraints: Operational lifting plant and landside equipment were between six and eleven years old, causing frequent unscheduled maintenance. Forklift breakdowns created bottlenecks during quay transfers, forcing temporary suspensions of ship discharge operations.
  

Real-World Impact and Recommendations
The findings offer practical insights for terminal operators, port authorities, and logistics policymakers aiming to improve port performance without costly physical expansions. By identifying equipment failure rather than quay length as the main bottleneck, the study highlights how targeted operational improvements can unlock existing capacity. The researchers recommend implementing structured condition-monitoring systems and structured replacement schedules for aging cargodoring equipment. Additionally, establishing digital truck appointment systems and real-time scheduling coordination can ease landside traffic congestion and streamline cargo distribution into the regional industrial network.

Author Profile
Kusharyanto, M.T.: Researcher and faculty member at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten, specializing in port operations, maritime logistics, and terminal performance evaluation.
Agus Widodo, M.T.: Specialist in maritime transportation systems and logistics infrastructure at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten.
Rob Danang Priatmaja, M.T.: Expert in port operational efficiency and maritime management at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten.
Sandy Wahyu Purnomo, M.T.: Academic researcher at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten focusing on maritime engineering, equipment maintenance strategies, and transport logistics.

Source
Kusharyanto, Agus Widodo, Rob Danang Priatmaja, Sandy Wahyu Purnomo. Concentration, Capacity and Constraint: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Cargo Handling Performance at Ciwandan Port, Banten, Indonesia. Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences (FJAS). Vol, 5 No. 8 Hal 1727-1742
DOI : https://doi.org/10.55927/fjas.v5i8.101
URL: https://journalfjas.my.id/index.php/fjas