RadarBali reports that the Kapal Express Bahari – a fast ferry passenger service connecting Denpasar and Banyuwangi in East Java has ceased operation since January of 2026.
The cessation of the ship’s operation was confirmed by the Head of the Transportation Agency (Dishub) for Denpasar, Ketut Sriawan, on Sunday, 05 July 2026.
Acknowledging the ship was no longer operating, Swiawan has yet to receive any formal announcement confirming the service’s termination.
The fast ferry service was intended to reduce road traffic between Bali and Banyuwangi, particularly during peak holiday periods.
The ferry service failed to achieve high passenger loads because only tourists were booking trips. Domestic passengers, meanwhile, failed to materialize due to a preference for private vehicles that can be used at the final destination.
The official count of passengers traveling on the Kapal Express Bahari from Serangan Island in Denpasar to Banyuwangi for the period July 2025 to January 2026 was 2,884. During this same period, the ship paused operations in October for docking repairs.
On a month-by-month basis, in July 2025, 243 passengers sailed on the ferry from Serangan. In August, the number of passengers increased to 593, increasing further to 772. In October, the ship was undergoing docking and therefore carried no passengers.
When ferry operations resumed in November 2025, only 36 passengers sailed from Serangan to Banyuwangi. In December, numbers improved to 825 passengers,
Because of these low passenger loads, the ferry operation is generally considered no longer economically viable. No passenger totals were available for the service starting in January 2026.
The ship has a passenger capacity of 400 per voyage.
The Kapal Cepat Express Bahari sailing between Banyuwangi and Denpasar commenced operations on Wednesday, 23 July 2025. The ferry covered the distance between Serangan and Banyuwangi in only 2.5 hours, while a road trip can take 5 hours or more.
Related Links
Better by Boat Bali to Banyuwangi
Stay Informed on Bali Tourism-Related News: Subscribe to Bali Update
