As the world’s largest archipelagic nation, Indonesia holds a strategic role on the global shipping map, particularly in vital maritime routes like the Lombok Strait. Geographically, the strait is situated between the islands of Bali and Lombok, serving as a buffer between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and also playing a crucial role as a global trade route. This article examines the Lombok Strait’s pivotal significance, both in terms of potential and risks.
It can be seen that the minimum width and depth of the Lombok Strait make it very safe for supertankers and other giant ships whose traffic cannot always fit through the Strait of Malacca. The Lombok Strait is at least 11.5 nautical miles wide and over 250 meters deep, deeper than the Strait of Malacca, which is no more than 200 meters. This offers prospective advantages regarding supply chain efficiency and logistics expenditures, such as heavily loaded VLCCs or ULCCs, or at least offers an alternative to the shallow Strait of Malacca.
Moreover, Lombok has an undeniable advantage as a proposed major shipping route between Asia and Australia for international trade. For example, research by Bokau et al. revealed that approximately 474 million tons of iron—loaded by 2,716 ships—were exported from Port Hedland, Australia, to China via the Lombok Strait. Furthermore, approximately 15,099 ships passed through the Lombok Strait, and 21,547 ships passed through it throughout 2023.
The Lombok Strait accounts for over 15% of Indonesia’s maritime trade revenue. This share could grow if the government invests in port infrastructure and improves logistics management. As a result, Indonesia’s efforts to diversify its maritime economy can advance. While previous focus was on the Sunda Strait or areas like Java and Sumatra, expanding infrastructure in eastern Indonesia, including the Lombok Strait, could be beneficial. The Lombok Strait also holds significant potential for global tourism since it lies between two major tourist hubs: Bali and Lombok. These destinations represent one of the top recreation areas in Southeast Asia, celebrated for their breathtaking natural landscapes, hospitality, and cultural diversity. This makes the Strait attractive not only for trade related to exports and imports but also for attracting large numbers of foreign tourists.
Furthermore, since 2020, the Indonesian government has implemented a Traffic Separation Scheme (TTS) in the strait to ensure safety in the context of environmental protection and navigation. The TTS was created to separate opposing maritime traffic flows, significantly reducing the risk of collisions or ship sinkings. This policy is a crucial stepping stone in establishing a foundation for smooth supply flows and smoothing uninterrupted global trade routes, improving the quality and safety of these waters.
The role of TSS extends beyond navigational functions to protecting the Lombok Strait’s stunning aquatic riches. The Lombok Strait is not only rich in coral reefs but also in seagrass beds and mangroves, and serves as a vital habitat for thousands of other aquatic species. In this regard, TSS contributes to marine ecosystem conservation by keeping ships out of sensitive areas. This prevents marine ecosystem pollution from waste, oil, and other foreign matter, and also prevents them from interfering with fish migration patterns. While shipping activities contribute significant economic value through the Lombok Strait, there are additional values that necessitate further study. These values include direct, indirect, and non-use values related to the Lombok Strait’s ecological functions. Studies of these values have shown that each area in the Lombok Strait can provide both direct and indirect benefits, such as mangrove forests, coral reefs, waterways, beaches, seaweed cultivation areas, salt production, and pearl cultivation.
In summary, the Lombok Strait occupies a strategic position as an international shipping lane, offering a significant alternative due to its spatial advantages. This presents significant opportunities, particularly in strengthening connections between Asia and Australia, while simultaneously increasing maritime revenue and tourism potential between Bali and Lombok. The Lombok Strait serves as a major route for large vessels and high-value cargo, requiring management to minimize risks and damage. In this regard, the Traffic Separation Scheme (TTS) has been in place since 2020. The TSS was designed to prevent collisions, reduce the risk of oil spills, and disrupt aquatic resources. However, challenges arise, including potential pollution, the need for ship waste management, and the need for human resources and infrastructure. Optimizing the management of the Lombok Strait can be achieved through a combination of infrastructure, regulations and planning, and conservation measures, enabling the Strait to develop as a productive route in the future.
About the authors:
- Muhammad Shalahuddin Al Ayyubi is a Master’s graduate of the School of Strategic and Global Studies, Universitas Indonesia, specializing in International Relations, Geopolitics, and Public Policy.
- Dina Purnamaningtyas is an undergraduate student at the Soil Science Department, Universitas Gadjah Mada, with a strong interest in environmental issues and sustainability.