Ketapang–Gilimanuk–Lombok Ferry Ports Closed During Nyepi, Note the Dates

Banyuwangi, VIVA – PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) will temporarily suspend cross-Banyuwangi–Bali Ketapang–Gilimanuk and Lombok ferry services on Nyepi Day on Bali, as a mark of respect for the Hindu holy day.

Director General of Land Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Aan Suhanan, said the operational adjustments were made as part of national transport arrangements to maintain order and to respect the observance of Catur Brata Penyepian on Bali.

‘This operational adjustment policy is also being implemented because Nyepi falls close to Lebaran 2026, which is expected to see a surge in mobility,’ he said in a written statement received in Banyuwangi, East Java, on Friday.

Aan Suhanan said that ferry operations will be temporarily halted at Ketapang Port, Banyuwangi, from 17:00 on 18 March to 06:00 on 20 March.

Meanwhile at Gilimanuk Port (Bali), ferry activity will be temporarily halted from 05:00 WITA on 19 March to 06:00 on 20 March; at Lembar Port (Lombok/NTB) from 21:00 WITA on 18 March to 01:30 WITA on 20 March; and at Padangbai Port (Bali) from 04:00 WITA on 19 March to 11:30 WITA on 20 March.

According to him, the government has prepared several traffic management schemes to anticipate movements from 13 to 29 March.

The arrangements, further said Aan Suhanan, include optimising MB Pier and LCM on the Ketapang–Gilimanuk route, and operating alternative routes Pelabuhan Tanjung Wangi–Pelabuhan Gilimas and Pelabuhan Jangkar–Pelabuhan Lembar.

‘This step aims to distribute vehicle flows to keep traffic smooth, safe and controlled during the peak mudik period,’ he said.

In addition to redirecting vehicles, the government has also established a delaying system via buffer zones on tolled and non-tolled roads and implemented geofencing with a radius of 2.65 kilometres from Ketapang Port and 2 kilometres from Gilimanuk Port. (Ant)