Labuan Bajo halts Komodo and Padar tourist boats on 9–10 September
Tourist boat routes from Labuan Bajo to Komodo and Padar Islands were temporarily closed on 9–10 September 2026 after the local port authority withheld sailing permits for tourist vessels in response to forecasts of high waves and strong…
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 4 min read
Labuan Bajo — Tourist boat sailings from Labuan Bajo to Komodo Island and Padar Island were temporarily halted on 9–10 September 2026 after the local port authority restricted permits for tourist vessels because of high waves and strong winds in the area, according to port officials and local media reports.
The Labuan Bajo Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (Kantor Kesyahbandaran dan Otoritas Pelabuhan/KSOP) issued Shipping Notice (Maklumat Pelayaran) No. 01/MP-IX/2026 on Tuesday, 8 September, tightening the issuance of sailing approval (Surat Persetujuan Berlayar/SPB) for tourist boats during the period of rough sea conditions. The notice ordered a temporary closure of tourist boat routes to Padar Island and parts of Komodo National Park, including Komodo Island, in response to forecasts of hazardous waves and strong winds.
Scope of the sailing restriction
Under the notice, tourist boats were not permitted to obtain SPB for trips to Padar Island and waters within Komodo National Park on 9–10 September, unless sea conditions improved earlier. KSOP stated that tourist vessels could still receive SPB for trips to Rinca Island, another Komodo dragon habitat within the national park, provided captains complied with safety requirements and assessed conditions on their specific routes.
Metro TV and other outlets reported that the decision followed warnings of potentially dangerous sea conditions and was intended as a temporary maritime safety measure rather than a broader closure of tourism in Labuan Bajo. The notice also introduced stricter conditions for any tourist vessels allowed to sail, with authorities urging operators to monitor sea state and weather developments.
Sea conditions and safety considerations
KSOP Labuan Bajo cited forecasts of high waves and strong winds as the basis for the restriction, drawing on information from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and observations in local waters. Media reports highlighted the risk to smaller tourist vessels operating between Labuan Bajo and the islands when waves in the area are forecast to reach close to 2 metres and winds strengthen.
Coverage by national and regional outlets described the closure as a precautionary step intended to prevent accidents involving tourist boats heading to Padar Island and Komodo National Park during the period of adverse sea conditions. KSOP officials said the measures were temporary and would be reviewed as forecasts and on-the-ground conditions changed.
Options for travellers and impact on Labuan Bajo
The sailing restriction applied to tourist boat operations, not to access to Labuan Bajo town itself. Hotels, restaurants and the airport continued to operate, and travellers arriving in Labuan Bajo were able to proceed with land-based activities and non-affected excursions, while being advised to confirm the status of any boat trips directly with their operators.
Media reports noted that operators could adjust itineraries, including offering trips to Rinca Island where SPB could still be granted, or reschedule sailings once conditions improved. Individual refund and rebooking policies depended on each company’s terms; authorities and news reports did not set out a unified policy for handling affected bookings.
Recent tourism context
The temporary suspension came less than a month after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores on 15 August 2026, prompting a short-lived halt to some tourist sailing activities. Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority later stated that tourism in Labuan Bajo had returned to normal, with boat trips to Komodo National Park resuming under regular operating regulations.
By mid-August, official updates reported thousands of visitors again entering Komodo National Park, including Padar, Komodo and Rinca Islands, with tourists returning to Labuan Bajo’s waterfront after excursions. Subsequent maritime restrictions in September, including the 9–10 September closure for tourist boats to Komodo and Padar, were attributed to sea and weather conditions rather than to earthquake impacts.
Sources
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