Bali Police Assess Celukan Bawang Port for Java–Bali Ferry Link

Celukan Bawang — Bali police traffic officials inspected Celukan Bawang Port and its connecting roads in Buleleng on Nov. 5, 2026, as authorities assessed the port’s potential role in an alternative Java–Bali ferry route.

The inspection was led by Yong Ferrydjon, director of traffic for the Bali Regional Police. Officials examined possible vehicle congestion, road infrastructure and the traffic-management measures that could be needed if ferry services begin operating from the port.

Why the Celukan Bawang review matters to visitors

Celukan Bawang is in northern Bali, away from the island’s main southern tourism centers. A new ferry connection could give travelers arriving from Java another route into Bali and could alter how road traffic is distributed across the island. The report describes the service as a possibility under assessment, not as an operating route.

Separate reporting identified two routes under consideration: Tanjung Wangi–Celukan Bawang and Jangkar–Celukan Bawang. The proposed links are intended to provide alternatives to the Ketapang–Gilimanuk crossing, particularly during the 2026 Christmas and 2027 New Year travel period. Their implementation remained subject to central-government decisions and technical assessments.

For foreign visitors, the practical implication is limited for now: the inspection concerns transport planning and access roads, while no confirmed public ferry schedule is stated in the reports. Any future service would affect arrival options, onward road travel and potential congestion in northern Bali, but the port’s role as a regular Java–Bali passenger route had not yet been established.

The review also considered the port’s accessibility and the readiness of traffic controls around its operational area. Further decisions on routes, vessels and operating schedules were still pending the relevant assessments and approvals.

Sources

• Bali Post — Indonesian regional news outlet
• detik.com