Bali’s Padang Bai Port closure extended again as big waves, dangerous conditions continue

The closure of Bali’s Port of Padang Bai for fast boats going to Gili has been extended again, this time until July 29—or until conditions improve.

The Port Authority (KSOP) previously shut down fast boat crossings from the port on July 19 and then extended the route block until July 25. Conditions didn’t improve by the 25, hence the tentative closure until July 29.

And tides aren’t exactly normal in the Gilis, three little islands off of Lombok, either.

With fast boats strictly advised against bringing tourists in the Gilis back to Bali, the island’s helicopter company has seen an uptick in stranded passengers desperate to return.

Much of Indonesia has been experiencing a strong swell causing massive waves that make fast boat crossings from the eastern Bali port unsafe.

Tides were as high as ever yesterday, with many netizens recording food stalls and streets being flooded at different beaches across South Bali.

For the sake of safety, all fast boat operators servicing the Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan route are expected to comply with this closure, based on the recommendations of the country’s meteorology center (BMKG), says I Komang Sarjana from the Padang Bai Port Authority.

The poor conditions have also affected boats making the crossing from Padang Bai to mainland Lombok. A long line of vehicles wanting to take the ferry have been backed up at the port for days, with very few boats making the trip to Lembar, Lombok.

This was the line for the Lembar ferry yesterday:

A post shared by Balipost.com (@balipost_com) on Jul 25, 2018 at 4:35am PDT

As a result, traffic from Karangasem to Padang Bai has not been smooth sailing:

A post shared by INFORMASI DENPASAR dan BALI (@infodenpasar) on Jul 25, 2018 at 3:44am PDT

Usually boats depart on the hour to Lembar, but only five ferries made the crossing on Thursday, Indonesian ferry company PT. ASDP operations manager for Padang Bai, I Wayan Rosta, told Bali Post.

“The weather is not friendly. We dare not take the risk,” Rosta said.

But some are concerned not just about safety, but also about business losses if unable to make the crossing.

One truck driver who had a cargo load of apples said he had been queuing at Padang Bai since Tuesday afternoon.

“If it becomes three days, the apples I’m hauling will rot,” he lamented.