UN/LOCODE: IDSRI📍 Indonesia
Port of Samarinda, Kalimantan (UN/LOCODE IDSRI)
❖ Coordinates: -0.4948°N, 117.1436°E
❖ Time Zone: Asia/Makassar
❖ UN/LOCODE: IDSRI
## About the Port
The Port of Samarinda (UN/LOCODE: IDSRI) is a strategically vital riverine–estuarine maritime gateway located on the island of Borneo in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Situated at geographic coordinates -0.4948232 latitude and 117.1436154 longitude, the port occupies the lower tidal reach of the Mahakam River, roughly 48 km southwest of the river mouth on the Makassar Strait. Operating under the Asia/Makassar timezone (UTC+8), Samarinda serves as the provincial capital and primary logistics node for the resource-rich Kutai Basin. The port complex integrates river wharves, private mining jetties, and offshore transshipment anchorages, handling a mixed fleet from coastal barges to Panamax bulk carriers.
### Geographic Setting and Hydrography
The maritime approach is governed by a micro-tidal strait with diurnal inequality; mean spring range reaches 3.2 m, neap range 1.4 m. The Mahakam delivers approximately 900 million m³ of freshwater annually, carrying heavy silt that necessitates recurring capital dredging to maintain a nominal 8.5 m chart datum channel to the inner port. Salinity intrusion extends up to 30 km upstream, affecting ballast operations. The river bend at Tanjung Pemancingan provides natural shelter for general cargo berths.
### Administrative and Regulatory Framework
Samarinda Port is operated under the integrated national regime of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) following the 2021 consolidation of regional state port enterprises Pelindo↗. Customs clearance, quarantine, and immigration are administered by Kantor Pengawasan dan Pelayanan Bea Cukai Samarinda. The facility’s UN/LOCODE IDSRI is enumerated in the official UNECE LOCODE repository, validating its use in bills of lading and maritime declarations UN LOCODE↗.
## History
### Pre-Colonial and Colonial Antecedents
Maritime activity at Samarinda predates Dutch hegemony, with the Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura Sultanate utilizing the Mahakam estuary as a transshipment point for jungle produce. The Dutch Residency of Samarinda was formalized in 1844, and by 1890 a steam-powered coal wharf at Jembayan began exporting lignite to colonial arsenals. Early port infrastructure was constrained by shallow river bars, requiring lighters to shuttle cargo to ocean schooners at the strait.
### Post-Independence Expansion
Following Indonesian independence, the port’s role diversified with crude oil exports from delta fields. The coal renaissance of the 1980s—spurred by Japanese and Korean utility contracts—transformed Samarinda into a dedicated dry-bulk outlet. The inauguration of the Palaran deep(er) terminal in 2003 and the proliferation of conveyor-equipped coal jetties downstream cemented its status as a top-tier bulk port.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Quays, Terminals, and Equipment
The public port comprises the Tanjung Pemancingan general cargo wharf (3 berths, max 7.5 m draft), the Palaran Container Yard (quay length 320 m, 2 ship-to-shore cranes, annual capacity 300,000 TEU), and the Teluk Lerong bulk loading facility with twin 1,500 tph conveyor systems. Private concession piers along the Loa Janan and Anggana reaches add over 30 barge-loading ramps. Shore power and potable water are available at all state berths; bunkering is conducted by barge from Balikpapan.
### Pilotage, Dredging, and Constraints
Compulsory pilotage is enforced from the Makassar Strait pilot station to inner berths. Under-keel clearance rules mandate 10% tolerance, limiting inner-port calls to vessels below 45,000 DWT. Capesize loadings occur via floating cranes at the Tanjung Tambangan anchorage (depth 22 m). Maintenance dredgers operate year-round to combat sedimentation rates exceeding 1.5 m/year in the channel.
## Economic Importance
### Coal Export Engine of Indonesia
Samarinda handles circa 60–70 million tonnes of thermal coal annually, representing over 30% of national seaborne coal exports. The Kutai Basin’s low-sulfur sub-bituminous reserves are price-competitive in Asian spot markets. Port throughput directly underwrites regional royalties and national energy security, as domestic perusahaan listrik negara (PLN) also sources local coal via cabotage.
### Multimodal and Hinterland Integration
The Mahakam corridor links Samarinda to upstream mining and plantation zones, enabling barge convoys of 8–12 units (each 300–500 DWT) to aggregate cargo for ocean export. Inbound flows of cement, fertilizer, and containerized goods reduce eastbound logistics costs by an estimated 25–30%, supporting construction and agrarian economies in interior Kalimantan.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Shipping Lanes
Exit via the Makassar Strait leads to three principal trajectories: (1) northeast to East Asia through the Celebes and Luzon Straits (average 5–7 days to Tokyo); (2) southwest to Singapore and the Indian Ocean via the Java Sea (3.5 days to SG); (3) domestic feeder routes to Tanjung Priok and Surabaya under the Tol Laut program. Seasonal monsoon shifts occasionally reroute capesize traffic via the Lombok Strait to avoid shallow Java Sea patches.
### Cargo Profile and Commodity Mix
Export dominance of steam coal (GCV 4,200–6,300 kcal/kg) is supplemented by palm kernel expellers, sawn timber, and nickel ore from neighboring regencies. Import categories include refined fuels, containerized machinery, and rice. Minor Ro-Ro ferry services connect to Pare-Pare, Sulawesi, but freight tonnage overwhelmingly dwarfs passenger metrics.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
IDSRI
Country
Indonesia
Province / Region
East Kalimantan
Latitude
-0.494823
Longitude
117.143615
Timezone
Asia/Makassar
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Samarinda, Kalimantan?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Samarinda, Kalimantan is IDSRI.
Where is Port of Samarinda, Kalimantan located?
The Port of Samarinda, Kalimantan is located in Indonesia, East Kalimantan. Its coordinates are -0.4948°N, 117.1436°E.
What time zone is Port of Samarinda, Kalimantan in?
Port of Samarinda, Kalimantan operates in the Asia/Makassar time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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