Mainly serving as connector between bigger cities and to remote islands, Pelni plays an important role in the Indonesian transport system.

Under the Dutch colonial rule, Indonesian inter-islands transportation was dominated by Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij (KPM), founded in 1888.

KPM headquarter was in Amsterdam, but daily operations were controlled from Batavia, Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta).

As a newly independent republic in the late 1940s, Indonesian government decided to nationalize Dutch-owned companies.

The Dutch refused to give away KPM, due to its strong position as a connector of the Indonesian archipelago.

KPM also played an important role in transporting Dutch logistics and military supplies during the Indonesian National Revolution.

However, due to a lack of experience and capital, PEPUSKA failed to takeover KPM's monopoly.

To bring more power, Indonesian Eximbank provided funding to buy 45 new coaster ships from western European countries.

[2] These strategies proved successful, as KPM suffered from declining market share and strike workers led by Sukarno's leftist doctrine.

Online booking was made available, but still limited to payment via Bank Rakyat Indonesia's ATM and Indomaret store.

KM Kelud (serving Jakarta-Batam-Tanjung Balai Karimun-Medan) is the ship with most complete facilities: KM Kelud also provides first- and 2nd-class service in addition to economy-class services, with double bedroom and four single-bedroom options, with television and better food menus.

Pelni introduces live-on-board concept, where Pelni ships will pick up passengers in hub ports (such as Semarang or Sorong), sail to destined tourist attraction, stay there as 'floating hotel' while passengers enjoying the tourism packages in nearby islands, and then return to hub port.

Built by a traditional shipbuilder in Tanjung Bira, South Sulawesi, it serves tourists in Labuan Bajo.

[20] Tol Laut (literally "Sea Toll (Road)" or "Sea Highway") is a maritime program by President Joko Widodo to improve the Indonesian logistic system through providing routine and subsidized cargo sailing across Indonesia.