Labuan Bajo, Indonesia – The Port Authority and Harbormaster Office (KSOP) Class III of Labuan Bajo has officially prolonged the suspension of all tourist vessel operations, including speedboats, until February 4, 2026. The decision, communicated through an official Navigational Advisory (Maklumat Pelayaran), cites ongoing severe maritime weather conditions, characterized by high winds and significant wave heights, as the primary reason for the extended closure.
This suspension, which directly impacts access to Komodo National Park and surrounding destinations, marks another extension in a series of closures that have intermittently halted marine tourism in this famed gateway to the Komodo dragons since late December 2025.
Safety First: A Non-Negotiable Priority
The advisory, numbered 01/MP-II/2026 and titled “Warning on Potential Extreme Weather,” is based on maritime weather forecasts from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and corroborated by direct observations from shore posts and other vessels.
“The service for issuing Sailing Approval Letters (Surat Persetujuan Berlayar or SPB) for all tourist vessels, including speedboats, has been temporarily suspended from February 2 to February 4, 2026, or until weather conditions improve, based on information from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG),” DetikBali reported.
Stephanus Risdiyanto, Head of KSOP Class III Labuan Bajo, confirmed the extension on Sunday, February 1. He emphasized that the closure also applies to nature tourism services within Komodo National Park, following direct observations of dangerously high waves in the park’s waters.
“The decision to open or close tourist shipping lanes depends entirely on BMKG’s weather forecasts,” Stephanus stated, underscoring that safety is the paramount consideration overriding other pressures.
Industry Pressure and Official Resolve
The extension comes amid mounting pressure from local tourism operators. Just days prior, on January 30, several tourism associations in Labuan Bajo appealed to the West Manggarai Regional Legislative Council (DPRD), urging authorities to resume vessel operations starting February 1. Their demands found some support among local council members, highlighting the economic strain caused by the prolonged suspension.
This period of operational instability began after the tragic sinking of the pinisi vessel Putri Sakinah in the Strait of Padar Island on December 26, 2025, which claimed the lives of Valencia CF women’s football coach Martin Carreras Fernando and his three children. While a brief three-day window for sailing was permitted in early January, operations have been repeatedly suspended since January 12 due to persistently poor weather.
Directive to Vessels and Mariners
The KSOP’s advisory outlines specific directives for vessels already at sea or preparing to sail:
- Vessel Masters are urged to ensure their vessels’ seaworthiness and seek shelter in deteriorating conditions.
- Mariners are asked to inform other vessels of any observed weather hazards.
- All vessels in the area should adjust their voyages, anchor or moor in areas sheltered from high waves and strong currents, and keep engines on standby.
- Coordination with the Harbormaster (Syahbandar) and the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) is mandated if weather conditions worsen significantly.
The authority’s firm stance reflects a heightened caution in the region’s maritime governance, balancing vital tourism revenue against an uncompromising commitment to passenger and crew safety. For global travelers and expatriates in Bali eyeing trips to Komodo National Park, the message is clear: itinerary flexibility and close monitoring of official advisories from KSOP and BMKG are essential until the seas calm.
