Tourism Vessels Now Permitted to Sail to Komodo and Padar Islands

The Port Authority and Harbour Master’s Office (KSOP) Class III Labuan Bajo has authorised tourism vessels, including both speedboats and traditional pinisi sailing ships, to resume voyages to Komodo Island and Padar Island within Komodo National Park, Labuan Bajo, Manggarai Barat, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), effective immediately. Over the past three weeks, the KSOP had issued sailing permits only for speedboats destined for Rinca Island due to severe weather conditions in the waters surrounding Komodo and Rinca Islands.

“Yes, sailing permits for all destinations within Komodo National Park have been issued,” stated Stephanus Risdiyanto, Head of KSOP Class III Labuan Bajo, on Friday (13 March 2026).

Stephanus explained that normal operations for tourism vessels to Komodo National Park have resumed following favourable weather forecasts issued by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Maritime Station in Tenau-Kupang.

“The weather forecast from the BMKG Maritime Office is now favourable, allowing vessels to resume sailings to Komodo Island,” Stephanus stated.

He nonetheless reminded ship captains to continue monitoring the BMKG weather forecasts independently. “Captains must continue to monitor weather forecasts autonomously and anticipate conditions in the field,” he emphasised.

Ship captains have also been instructed to refrain from night-time sailings and to avoid hazardous areas.

The restriction on tourism vessels sailing to Komodo and Padar Islands due to adverse weather has been in effect since 23 February 2026. Sailing permits were reissued for all destinations within Komodo National Park between 26 February and 2 March. The KSOP reimposed the restriction from 3 to 5 March and subsequently extended it multiple times until 13 March 2026.