Labuan Bajo suspends tourist boat sailings until Feb. 4 amid high waves
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- KSOP Labuan Bajo extended the shutdown of tourist boat sailings and SPB services through Feb. 4, citing BMKG warnings of strong winds and high waves.
- Tourism operators pushed for reopening, but authorities said safety considerations and official forecasts remain the basis for any decision.
- The closure has been repeatedly extended since late December after a deadly phinisi sinking near Padar Island, with Komodo National Park nature tourism also affected.
The Labuan Bajo Class III Harbor Master and Port Authority Office (KSOP) has again extended the suspension of tourist boat sailings into February 2026, citing worsening weather conditions.
Previously, the closure of tourist boat services had been extended through Feb. 1, 2026. Authorities now say the current weather poses safety risks for navigation in Labuan Bajo waters.
The latest extension comes amid pressure from tourism operators in Labuan Bajo who have urged KSOP to reopen tourist boat sailings starting today.
“Tourist boat sailings are closed again for three days (Feb. 2–4, 2026),” Labuan Bajo KSOP head Stephanus Risdiyanto said on Sunday (Feb. 1, 2026), as quoted by detikBali.
During the full suspension, KSOP will not process the issuance of sailing approval letters (SPB) for trips to Komodo National Park and other destinations in Labuan Bajo. SPBs are required for tourist vessels operating in Labuan Bajo waters, including phinisi wooden boats and speedboats.
“SPB services for tourist boats, including speedboats, are temporarily suspended from Feb. 2–4, 2026, or until weather conditions improve based on BMKG information,” Stephanus said.
KSOP Labuan Bajo has issued a maritime notice warning of potential extreme weather. Based on the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecast, the Labuan Bajo area may continue to face strong winds and high waves through Feb. 4, 2026.
Stephanus added that the decision to restrict access to Komodo National Park and surrounding areas was also based on direct observations of high waves in waters around the park. During the sailing suspension, nature tourism services in Komodo National Park are also closed.
The suspension of tourist boat sailings in Labuan Bajo has been in place since Dec. 26, 2025, following the sinking of the phinisi tourist boat Putri Sakinah in the Padar Island Strait. The accident killed Valencia CF women’s football coach Martin Carreras Fernando and his three children.
Tourist boats were briefly allowed to operate for three days from Jan. 9–11. However, sailings were halted again starting Jan. 12 and have been extended repeatedly through Feb. 4.
The prolonged suspension has drawn complaints from tourism businesses in Labuan Bajo. Several tourism associations raised the issue with the West Manggarai Regional Legislative Council (DPRD Manggarai Barat) on Friday (Jan. 30) afternoon, urging KSOP to reopen tourist boat sailings starting today.
Their demands were backed by several DPRD members. However, KSOP Labuan Bajo stressed that decisions to reopen or suspend operations depend on BMKG weather forecasts, with navigation safety as the top priority.
Indonesianpost.com | Detik
