The official name of Indonesia's first international-standard full-service marina was unveiled during a press conference on 23 September 2025 in Monaco, the day before the start of the famous Monaco Yacht Show. Meaning "gateway" in Balinese, Bali Gapura Marina will offer 180 berths, including superyacht capacity for vessels up to 90 metres.
Commenting on the choice of the name Gapura, Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, said that it "reflects how every vessel is welcomed into Bali Gapura Marina as part of a cultural journey. It also reinforces our commitment to placing maritime tourism at the centre of national strategic projects, uniting cultural heritage with forward-looking economic priorities." Gapura was also chosen for its symbolism, representing everything that greater recreational yachting will bring to Bali and Indonesia, as well as for being easy for foreigners to pronounce. According to Joseph Prabantara, co-founder of MDI, the name will both resonate with the local population and provide a "sense of place" internationally.
With the groundbreaking ceremony having taken place on 22 May, the marina is being constructed on a strict and rapid timeline. The first and smallest of five docks — Dock B, with 48 berths — is scheduled to begin pilot commercial operations in early December this year, with final project completion expected about three years later. At the time of writing, Dock B is in the final stages of preparation and is being equipped with power pedestals and water systems from Plus Marine, the first installation of its kind in Indonesia. The pontoons are being manufactured locally by the Swedish company SF Marina.
During the pilot phase, boats will be able to berth and access water, electricity, and provisioning services, while a welcome station will handle quarantine, immigration, customs, and port formalities. Ulf Backlund, President Director of MDI, said that Dock B’s completion will be more than an operational milestone and will represent a "new era for Indonesia." He added: "The pilot opening paves the way for the next phases: complete technical service facilities by mid-2026, expansion to 180 berths including superyacht capacity by Q3 2026, and the development of a waterfront commercial and lifestyle hub by 2028."
The project is being developed jointly by PT Marina Development Indonesia (MDI) and state-owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) under a 50-year government concession, with the possibility of extension. Arif Suhartono, President Director of Pelindo, said that Pelindo "remains open to exploring and developing other world-class marinas within Indonesia's archipelago," adding that this "reflects our long-term vision to elevate Indonesia's standing as a premier maritime and tourism hub in the region."
Covering 3.3 hectares, Bali Gapura Marina is expected to generate 300 direct jobs and a further 1,500 indirect jobs. Despite boasting over 17,000 islands and some of the region’s most beautiful cruising grounds, Indonesia’s recreational maritime infrastructure has long been underdeveloped. Bali Gapura Marina is intended to be the first of approximately 30 marinas to be constructed in the coming decades, aimed at accommodating the growing number of recreational vessels of all sizes visiting Indonesia.
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