Digital Port Governance and Institutional Right-Sizing: Integrating the Amurang, Kotabunan, and Labuhan Uki Port Administration Units in North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia’s port-administration system faces a dual challenge: improving the efficiency of geographically dispersed public organizations while standardizing digital maritime services. This study evaluates the proposed upgrading of the Amurang Class II Port Administration Unit (Kantor Unit Penyelenggara Pelabuhan/UPP) to Class I through institutional integration with the Kotabunan and Labuhan Uki Class III UPPs in North Sulawesi. The article reformulates an administrative policy study as a descriptive policy case study using secondary operational records, organizational data, fiscal data, spatial-access information, and regulatory documents for 2024–July 2026. The analysis covers vessel calls and gross tonnage, cargo and passenger movements, non-tax state revenue, personnel and technical competencies, payroll expenditure, service geography, and the implementation of Inaportnet and Single Submission (SSm) Pengangkut. The combined service area recorded 1,645 vessel calls and 2.44 million GT in 2025, handled approximately 3.50 million ton/m³ of cargo movements, and generated approximately IDR 4.51 billion in non-tax state revenue. Across the three offices, 106 personnel are available, but critical certified competencies, Marine Inspector Type A, ship measurement experts, Port State Control Officers, and ISPS Code auditors are absent. The evidence supports institutional consolidation as a right-sizing strategy, particularly for unified supervision, personnel deployment, fiscal administration, and digital-service standardization. However, consolidation alone cannot resolve competency gaps; targeted certification, risk-based field deployment, and interoperable digital governance remain necessary. The study proposes a phased integration model combining centralized institutional command with decentralized operational presence at higher-risk work areas.