Explore: Benoa
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General Info
COVID-19: OPEN PORT
See Indonesia Biosecurity for more details.
Description:
Located on the eastern side of the southern tip of Bali, Benoa is the official Port of Entry for Bali. It is a very busy commercial harbour with many fishing boats and freighters. It is very shallow in places and the shoal extends well into the marked channel in places, especially on the north side of the outer channel.
Serangan Harbour is about one km north of Benoa and provides two anchorage areas. Moorings are available for short and long term stays.
Cruiser Highlights:
Good provisioning; some repairs possible; lots of small hardware and supply shops; excellent supermarkets; wide range of cultural, historical and natural tourism options including surfing, diving, yoga and meditation retreats.
Entrance Notes or Cautions:
Benoa Harbour
This harbour is restricted by the tide in parts and its entrance – on the Lombok straight – can be tricky, with 8-knot currents and sometimes standing waves if there is a swell and an opposing current and tide that sets to the south. Time things carefully when planning on entering. Currents flow south during the SE monsoon and north during the NW monsoon.
The pass through the reef leading into Benoa Harbour should not be negotiated at night as the lights can be confusing.
Serangan Harbour
This harbour lies 1 KM to the north of Benoa and is accessed through a separate marked channel through the reef. Night arrivals are not recommended as there are shallow reefs either side of the entrance channel.
A busy anchorage with fast boats and ferries arriving from and leaving for nearby islands including Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Lombok.
Positions:
Benoa Harbour entrance – 08°45″S, 115°14″E
Serangan Harbour entrance – 08°43″31’S, 115°15″11’E
Clearance
Coronavirus (February 2020): There are strict quarantine controls in place in Sabang and likely in other ports of entry. See Formalities for all the details.
For full details of International Clearance into Indonesia, see the Indonesia Formalities page.
General Clearance:
Clearance procedures can be carried out at Benoa (which is the commercial port) or Serangan which is better for small craft and yachts
A sailing permit (SPB) is issued when departing from the first entry port and this covers all further domestic port visits (in practice some Harbour Masters want notification and charge a small fee). All yacht crew are treated as tourists for immigration and must follow standard visa rules.
Note: Legally, once the sailing permit is issued at the entry port, yachts do NOT have to do any domestic reporting/clearances.
It is possible to anchor in Serangan Harbour and then go to Benoa to undertake clearance formalities. However, it is advisable to use the services of an agent as Immigration officials are reported as being less than happy with people off yachts going ashore before clearing in correctly.
International Clearance:
Clearance procedures can be carried out at Benoa (which is the commercial port) or Serangan which is better for small craft and yachts.
All the necessary offices are within walking distance of Bali Marina – except immigration which is in Benoa town., a short taxi ride away. The Harbour Master’s office must be visited first, followed by Navy, Immigration, Quarantine and Customs, before returning to the Harbour Master.
It is also possible to do international clearances in Serangan. An agent will bring all officials to your boat. Clearance is also available at Royal Bali Yacht Club (RBYC) but this is for Super Yachts and vessels over 24m LOA only.
Note: Clearance at Serangan is reported to be easy and quick, but expensive if using an agent.
Last updated: June 2022
Related Businesses
Isle Marine Services
Address: Serangan (just north of Benoa Harbour, Jalan Tukad Punggawa No. 24, Serangan Island, Benoa, South / Central Indonesia - Bali, Indonesia,
Contact Ruth. Clearance, Visas, Moorings available, Guardinage.
896 8300 3762
Can assist with moorings. Ruth is reported to be honest, friendly, and helpful. Her office has now... Read More
PT. Indonusa Segaramarine
Address: Benoa, South / Central Indonesia - Bali, Indonesia,
Contact: Stephanus S. Djajasaputra
Established in 1996, superyacht agents based in Bali.... Read More
Docking
Benoa Harbor has limited mooring/anchoring options as it is a busy commercial and fishing habor for the island. Latest reports indicate that the Bali International Marina in Benoa Harbor is in a serious state of disrepair and can be quite hazardous depending on the berth assigned and weather conditions.
The most popular anchorage is at Serangan Harbor in the bay opposite the village of Serangan which is on a small island, attached to Bali by a causeway.
Benoa Harbor
A buoyed channel leads to Benoa Harbor and Bali Marina is located in the NE part of the harbor. The marina monitors Channel 77 during office hours (08:00- 20:00). Bali Marina is small- about 20 slots – most of which seem to be filled with resident boats. There is a restaurant/bar area but prices are expensive by Indonesian standards and there are no moorings available via the marina. The marina charges a US$5/day landing fee to tie up dinghies. There are moorings here, run by a local who will find you if you pick one up.
July 2019 reports indicate that the Bali Marina is in a serious state of disrepair and can be quite hazardous depending on the berth assigned and weather conditions. For additional information see Related User Comments.
A few boats manage to anchor north of the marina and moorings, but it is very shallow and space is very limited here.
Serangan Harbor
Serangan Harbor lies one km north of Benoa and is accessed through a separate channel through the reef. Multiple masts are visible from the Lombok Channel and the channel into Serangan anchorage is marked by red-and-green buoys. The entrance is 10m wide marked by small unlit buoys, passing through the breaking reef. Entrance by night should be avoided.
This location is the most popular place to anchor or moor for visiting yachts. Several businesses offer moorings and the Royal Bali Yacht Club, on the Sanur side of the harbor, has a new floating pontoon and pier predominantly for super yachts and vessels 24m LOA and above.
- Serangan anchorage (c) sv-totem.blogspot.com
Once inside the buoys, you have two well-protected anchorages with about 30 or 40 moorings that cater to a mix of cruisers and local boats. Even if these fill up, there is still plenty of room for anchoring. This harbor is well protected from the NW monsoon, but more open to the SE.
The price of all moorings here includes a Village Fee, which is supposed to go to the people of Serangan.
Moorings can be booked via Isle Marine Services, Serangan Yacht Services or Mande Yacht Service (see details below).
There is plenty of room behind the reef to anchor in 7m mud. In fact, with the SE monsoon, there is less of a fetch here than at the moorings, but it’s less convenient for getting ashore. Swell protection is good everywhere at Serangan. However, it is not advisable to anchor inside of where the moorings start as the area dries at low tide.
Security does not appear to be a problem here, but it is advisable to observe sensible precautions if leaving the vessel for any length of time.
Drinking water is available from the shops in the village, there is a supermarket not too far away and a fuel station on the main road out of Serangan. A local market operates from about 06:00 to 10:00 daily on the ground floor of the large tsunami shelter, about five minutes walk from the dinghy dock. Fresh vegetables and fruit are available.
No toilets or showers on shore but you may be able to book into a nearby hotel for a night and use their shower and toilet facilities if need be.
Unfortunately the harbor is very dirty and suffers from a great deal of rubbish in the waters. It is also adjacent to Bali’s rubbish mountain and the anchorage can be unpleasant when the wind is blowing from the south.
Dinghy Docks:
A dinghy dock is available for yachts anchored/moored in Serangan Harbor. A fee is payable for the use of this facility.
Marinas:
Bali International Marina is reported to be in a state of disrepair with limited facilities.
The Royal Bali Yacht Club has been re-established on the north (Sanur) side of the Serangan anchorage but does not (currently) have berths for yachts less than 24 meters LOA or moorings or anchorage space available to visiting yachts. The company running the RBYC is planning a new marina here as well. See Related User Comments for more information.
Last updated: June 2022
Related Businesses
Bali International Marina
Address: Pelabuhan Benoa, Denpasar, Bali 8D222, Benoa, South / Central Indonesia - Bali, Indonesia,
Located in Benoa harbour.
The marina offers all usual services, non-potable water from the tap on the wharf, electricity on some berths, fuel (minimum amount 500lts),... Read More
Isle Marine Services
Address: Serangan (just north of Benoa Harbour, Jalan Tukad Punggawa No. 24, Serangan Island, Benoa, South / Central Indonesia - Bali, Indonesia,
Contact Ruth. Clearance, Visas, Moorings available, Guardinage.
896 8300 3762
Can assist with moorings. Ruth is reported to be honest, friendly, and helpful. Her office has now... Read More
Mande Yacht Service (pro. “Monday”)
Address: Benoa, South / Central Indonesia - Bali, Indonesia,
Mooring provider, speaks good English. Rubbish disposal, fuel, laundry, water etc. Local knowledge. Send a note on Messenger via FB: Mande Ngurah... Read More
Serangan Yacht Service
Address: Benoa, South / Central Indonesia - Bali, Indonesia,
Operate moorings in Serangan harbour. Gas/LPG refill service, laundry, repair services.... Read More
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