Heavy rain and strong winds have forced the temporary closure of the vital Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry route, disrupting travel between Java and Bali and causing queues at ports.
BALI – A significant weather system has brought the bustling ferry crossing between Java and Bali to a standstill. Authorities suspended all services across the Bali Strait on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, citing dangerous conditions caused by heavy rain and strong winds that severely reduced visibility.
The decision, announced by the local Land Transport Management Office (BPTD) at Ketapang Port, was made on strict safety grounds. “Visibility is down to around two kilometers,” explained Bayu Kusumo Nugroho, the BPTD service unit coordinator. “For safety reasons, sailing is not advised, and crossings are temporarily closed.”
The suspension has led to the buildup of waiting vehicles at Ketapang Port in East Java. Officials report that traffic is still flowing in the queue areas and there is no significant congestion in the buffer zones, but travelers are experiencing delays.
The closure came after a busy period of operation. In the 25 minutes leading up to the suspension, 28 vessels across eight scheduled trips had been servicing the route from both the Moveable Bridge (MB) and Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) docks.
The BPTD has advised all passengers and drivers to remain calm, follow instructions from port officials, and stay updated on weather forecasts. Travelers are strongly recommended to postpone their journeys if severe weather is predicted.
The weather outlook suggests disruptions may continue. According to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the northern part of the Bali Strait is forecast to experience further unsettled conditions over the next two days, with potential for light rain to thunderstorms.
The Ketapang-Gilimanuk crossing is a critical transport link, carrying a constant flow of tourists, commercial goods, and local traffic between Indonesia’s most populous island, Java, and the resort island of Bali. Such suspensions, while necessary for safety, underscore the logistical challenges of island connectivity during Indonesia’s rainy season. Travelers planning to use this route in the coming days are urged to check with operators and the BMKG for real-time updates before departing.
