Crowds flood Telaga Punggur Port while KMP Citra Mandala suffers mechanical failure on Riau-bound journey
As the Eid return wave continued in Batam, passengers endured long hours aboard roro ferries, with some forced to sit on the floor due to overcrowding. Meanwhile, a separate vessel suffered engine failure en route to Riau.
Telaga Punggur Port in Batam remains a key transit hub for inter-island travel during the Eid season, connecting Riau mainland and surrounding islands. Roll-on/roll-off (roro) ferries are a popular low-cost alternative to air or fast boat travel, especially for families carrying large quantities of goods and personal vehicles.
On April 9, 2025, the Telaga Punggur Ferry Terminal in Batam was packed with returning travelers on the ninth day of Eid celebrations. Hundreds of passengers disembarked from ferries arriving from Buton, Riau, many of whom had spent over 20 hours at sea. Some, like Astri from Payakumbuh, had no choice but to sit on the deck floor for the entire journey.
“I knew we wouldn’t get seats, so we brought our own mat,” said Astri, who paid just Rp135,000 (approximately S$10.94) for the trip—a price significantly lower than air or fast boat fares. Despite the affordability, the experience was far from comfortable, with most seats occupied early and many used as makeshift beds.
Another passenger, Rian, echoed the same issue. He, along with his wife and child, sat and slept on the floor throughout the journey due to lack of seating. With vehicle slots filled, Rian also had to leave his car behind in Buton to catch the next available ferry, prioritizing his family’s return to Batam for school and work commitments.
While passengers arriving in Batam were dealing with crowding, another group traveling the opposite route faced a different problem. On April 7, the KMP Citra Mandala experienced an engine failure two hours after departing from Telaga Punggur. The incident, which occurred around 8:00 p.m., was believed to have been caused by water entering the engine’s daily tank.
According to PT Jembatan Nusantara Ferry Batam’s Branch Manager Baringin Mega, the vessel’s technicians quickly carried out a tank purge and filter cleaning. The repairs took about an hour, allowing the ferry to resume its journey to Mengkapan, Riau by 9:00 p.m.
KMP Citra Mandala was carrying 179 passengers and several vehicles. It was accompanied on its journey by KMP Satria Pratama, another ferry heading to the same destination. The affected ferry safely docked at Mengkapan Port by 3:00 p.m. the following day.
Despite both mechanical and logistical challenges, port authorities have yet to issue official statements regarding infrastructure improvements or future contingency plans. General Manager of ASDP Indonesia Ferry Batam, Hermin, could not be reached for comment as of press time.
The dual challenges of overloaded ferry capacity and mechanical reliability highlight the urgent need for improved maritime infrastructure in the Riau Islands. For Indonesians and travelers in nearby regions such as Singapore, reliable and safe inter-island transport remains essential during major holidays like Eid, when demand peaks and system weaknesses are exposed.
Sources: Batam Pos (2025), Detik.com (2025)
Keywords: Telaga Punggur, KMP Citra Mandala, Eid Ferry Traffic, Roro Passengers, Batam to Riau, Ferry Engine Failure, Beach Road Transport
