Sebatik Crossing Port Delivers Solid Service Despite Major Infrastructure and Ship Frequency Constraints

Gloria Florensia Br Surbakti Kamis, September 03, 2026
                                                                                
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FORMOSA NEWS

Public services at the Sebatik Traffic and Transportation Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) ferry port run effectively and satisfy border commuters, yet severely aging infrastructure and low ferry departure frequencies continue to bottleneck regional connectivity. This critical insight comes from a comprehensive field study conducted by researchers Zainal Abidinsyah, Mujahid, and Rosnaini Daga from Universitas Fajar Makassar, published in the International Journal of Global Sustainable Research (IJGSR) in August 2026. The findings underscore how strategic border infrastructure directly impacts daily community mobility and cross-border trade in Indonesia’s outermost regions.

Border Mobility and Economic Relevance

The UPT LLA Sebatik ferry port operates across five administrative districts—Sebatik Induk, Sebatik Timur, Sebatik Tengah, Sebatik Utara, and Sebatik Barat—within Nunukan Regency. Positioned directly along the international border, this maritime hub handles continuous passenger movement and essential freight distribution, serving as a primary driver for the local economy and contributing directly to Nunukan Regency’s Regional Original Revenue (PAD).

Despite its high strategic value, the facility operates under severe resource constraints. A staff of 41 personnel relies on just three shared desktop computers and printers across four working groups, creating administrative backlogs. More critically, severe physical deterioration forced the administration to abandon its main office building and conduct daily operations out of a rented facility.

Research Methodology

To evaluate service delivery accurately, the research team from Universitas Fajar Makassar conducted a descriptive qualitative study between June and July 2026. The researchers gathered data using a combination of field observations, document reviews, and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders.

Informants included UPT Head Anton Purnomo, frontline service personnel (Khairul Jabbar, Rusli, Adi, and Irwansyah Samuel), and regular ferry passengers (Saipul, Taslim, Hidayat, Amiruddin, and Ardiansyah). The researchers analyzed the collected qualitative data using the established SERVQUAL framework developed by Parasuraman, Zeithaml, and Berry, assessing five core dimensions: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy.

Key Findings

The evaluation revealed a clear divergence between strong human performance and deficient physical infrastructure:

  • Reliability & Responsiveness: Service officers strictly follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), display clear task division, and actively communicate schedules and operational procedures to passengers without delay.
  • Assurance & Empathy: Port staff successfully maintain passenger safety, maintain fee transparency, and foster public trust through polite, respectful, and accessible communication.
  • Deficient Tangibles: Supporting facilities remain highly inadequate. Critical embarkation posts, such as the Lalesalo Pier Post, completely lack passenger waiting areas and protection from weather.
  • Constrained Amenities: Vehicle parking areas are severely congested, and public sanitation and basic amenities fail to accommodate daily traffic demands.
  • Low Departure Frequency: The limited number of scheduled ferry runs forces passengers to endure prolonged waiting times at the port, creating logistical bottlenecks for local trade.

Implications and Real-World Impact

The study proves that frontline staff dedication alone cannot bridge systemic infrastructure deficits in border transport networks. To optimize regional connectivity and protect local economic stability, local authorities and the Regional Government of Nunukan Regency must allocate targeted capital budgets toward port modernization.

Prioritizing new passenger waiting halls, expanded parking grounds, updated IT hardware, and increased ferry departure frequencies will dramatically streamline trade routes and improve overall quality of life along Indonesia's borderlands.

"Public services at the ferry port play a crucial role in supporting community mobility in border areas... Although the services provided have been running well based on service quality dimensions, challenges remain due to limited infrastructure and departure frequencies," noted lead researcher Zainal Abidinsyah and co-authors Mujahid and Rosnaini Daga from Universitas Fajar Makassar.

Author Profiles

  • Zainal Abidinsyah: Researcher in Public Administration and Public Service Quality at Universitas Fajar Makassar, specializing in regional transport logistics.
  • Mujahid, S.E., M.Si.: Academic and researcher at Universitas Fajar Makassar with expertise in public sector management and administrative governance.
  • Rosnaini Daga, S.E., M.M.: Senior lecturer and researcher at Universitas Fajar Makassar focusing on marketing management, service quality, and consumer behavior.

Source Information

Gloria Florensia Br Surbakti

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