The maritime services company engaged employees across three Kalimantan cities to identify operational challenges, improve workplace safety, strengthen communication and develop cross-functional solutions
PT Pelindo Jasa Maritim (PJM) has conducted the second batch of its SAIL (Speak, Assess, Integrate, Learn) program in Balikpapan, Samarinda and Bontang, aiming to improve communication between management and employees, address operational challenges and strengthen workplace safety.
The program, held on Oct. 14-16, covered Kalimantan Area 1 and Kalimantan Area 2 within PJM’s Region 4. It forms part of the company’s “Break The Silo” cultural initiative, which seeks to encourage collaboration across departments and improve service quality.
Aris Subagyo, PJM’s director of finance, human resources and risk management, said the program allows management to assess working conditions directly and gather feedback from frontline employees.
“Through SAIL, management can engage in direct dialogue with employees to learn about the challenges they face. This feedback forms the basis for formulating improvement measures that involve various functions across the company,” Aris said.
The second batch brought together head office and regional management, as well as employees in operational and administrative roles, including marine pilots, vessel crew members, radio operators and planners.
Activities began with management walkthroughs of operational facilities, including pilot stations, tugboats and planning and control rooms. The visits assessed working conditions, compliance with safety procedures, service quality and operational constraints.
Management subsequently discussed the findings with employees, who raised concerns and proposed improvements. Topics included staffing requirements for marine pilots, employee competency development, career progression and the modernization of facilities supporting pilotage services.
Occupational health and safety were also central to the discussions, particularly shift scheduling and fatigue risks among operational personnel. Participants reviewed the implementation of standard operating procedures and work instructions, as well as the “Ready To Go” application, which is intended to promote greater workplace safety awareness.
During an “Insight Session from the Board of Directors,” management discussed workforce planning, skills development, career opportunities and the provision of appropriate work facilities.
The SAIL program consists of three main components: Operational Assessment, Speaker (Workers’ Voice) and Marine Collab Squad. The assessment identifies working conditions and operational challenges, while the Speaker platform provides a forum for employees and management to discuss concerns and potential solutions. The Marine Collab Squad coordinates efforts across functions to address findings and develop improvements.
Aris said follow-up action was essential to ensure the program produced measurable results. Issues identified during the sessions must be coordinated with relevant departments to prevent organizational boundaries from delaying solutions, he said.
“SAIL is more than just a forum for voicing aspirations. We want every piece of input to be analyzed and followed up on in a measurable way, so that the results can be felt by the employees and contribute to enhancing the quality of operational services,” Aris said.
The initiative also supports PJM’s broader transformation agenda, which aligns with Danantara Indonesia’s objectives of strengthening governance, improving workforce quality and increasing operational efficiency.
Through the second batch, PJM aims to reinforce its “One PJM – One Pelindo” work culture by promoting cooperation among its head office, regional offices and operational units. The company expects the initiative to accelerate the resolution of operational issues, improve workplace safety and support safer, more reliable port services.
