Work begins on Bali Benoa Marina in Indonesia
PT Marina Development Indonesia (MDI), in collaboration with PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo), officially broke ground on the Bali Benoa Marina, which will be Indonesia’s first full-service international yacht marina.
Bali Benoa Marina is a landmark development in Bali, which MIN first reported on in 2024. It aims to position Bali as a premier yacht destination in southeast Asia, and will offer 180 berths when completed, including infrastructure for yachts up to 90 metres.
Indonesia is presenting new opportunities and markets for marine brands. Recently, Gulf Craft appointed Yacht Sourcing as its exclusive dealer within Indonesia. Similarly, French boatbuilder Jeanneau named Salaya Yachts as its exclusive dealer in the region.
Luxury marina in Bali: timeline
Bali Benoa Marina will be developed in four key phases:
- Phase 1 (Q4 2025): Completion of Dock B with 40 berths, operational utilities and a welcoming station to begin pilot operations
- Phase 2 (Q2 2026): Full rollout of technical services including vessel maintenance, repair workshops, fuelling systems and docking support
- Phase 3 (Q3 2026): Final expansion to 180 berths, including infrastructure for yachts up to 90 metres, customs/immigration clearance, provisioning services and integrated digital booking systems
- Phase 4 (Q4 2027): Completion of waterfront business zones including food, beverage and retail outlets, yacht sales offices and branded meetings, incentives, and conference and exhibition venues to support a sustainable waterfront economy
Bali Benoa Marina will feature high-performance floating concrete pontoons engineered by SF Marina (Sweden).
Through a structured technology transfer programme, SF Marina Indonesia now undertakes 100 per cent of the pontoon manufacturing, assembly and installation under the onsite, direct supervision of a senior project manager from SF Marina Sweden. This collaboration ensures strict compliance with global standards while enhancing local expertise in marine infrastructure, advancing Indonesia’s ambition to become southeast Asia’s premier yachting destination.
Plus Marine of Italy will equip the marina with dockside utility pedestals offering integrated electricity and freshwater access at all berths, managed remotely via the Smartplus Cloud web-based system. Discover Luxury Indonesia (DLI) will lead the implementation of QICP (Quarantine, Immigration, Customs and Port protocols), provisioning systems and crew logistics, while also curating bespoke yachting routes and on-ground guest experiences across Bali and the Indonesian archipelago — ensuring seamless clearance, premium services, and world-class destination experiences align with global luxury standards.
Marine tourism expansion in Bali
The project is recognised as a key driver in Indonesia’s transition from mass tourism to high-value, sustainable travel. Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, says: “The development of Bali Benoa Marina marks a pivotal moment in Indonesia’s transition toward upscale, sustainable tourism. By embracing world-class marine infrastructure, we are not only enhancing our appeal to global yachting communities but also creating new economic opportunities for our coastal regions. This project aligns closely with our flagship agenda of upscaling Indonesia’s tourism profile through high-value, experience-based travel. We believe that marine tourism — rooted in our rich maritime heritage — can be one of Indonesia’s strongest offerings on the global tourism stage.”
Bali Benoa Marina plans
During the groundbreaking ceremony, MDI revealed the comprehensive master plan design for Bali Benoa Marina and its 3.3 hectare waterfront development, comprising:
- A hospitality zone with meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition facilities
- Retail area with curated local and global brands
- A lifestyle and events hub including food and beverage outlets and marine lifestyle experiences
The waterfront land masterplan is led by 2M Design Lab, the appointed international waterfront architect, in close collaboration with Dr. Eng. Ir. I Wayan Kastawan ST, MA, the spiritual architectural advisor of MDI. According to MDI, the design is guided by the Balinese philosophy of Sad Kerthi, and incorporates six key principles: spiritual purification, forest and water conservation, ocean preservation, human development and universal balance, ensuring a regenerative coastal development rooted in cultural and ecological harmony.
I Nyoman Giri Prasta, vice governor of Bali, says: “The success of this development will be measured not only in numbers, but in how well it upholds Bali’s traditions, empowers our people and brings long-term value to the island.”
Prasetyo Pras, director of strategy at Pelindo, says: ”The Bali Benoa Marina is a key anchor within the larger Bali Maritime Tourism Hub (BMTH), envisioned as a centralised gateway for superyacht marina, cruise ports, and waterfront tourism experiences.”
Bali Benoa Marina is developed in close collaboration with KSOP Benoa, as the Port Authority overseeing maritime safety, vessel traffic and port clearance.
“Our mandate is to uphold international safety and clearance protocols so that every yacht entering Indonesian waters is backed by efficient clearance and navigational safety whilst following the local regulatory compliance,” said Aprianus Hangki, head of the port authority and Harbour Class II Benoa.
Ulf Backlund, President Director of MDI, stated: “Over 3,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created — from marina crew and marine technicians to hospitality and digital service roles. We are committed to building not just infrastructure, but a sustainable marine economy that improves lives and unlocks new business opportunities in Bali and beyond.”
MDI will also roll out a marine skills development programme in partnership with local vocational institutions to build a future-ready workforce. Privately funded and aligned with the government’s tourism diversification strategy, the project meets growing demand for premium yachting destinations and is strategically positioned along key cruising routes from Australia and across southeast Asia.
Whilst this sounds very interesting, I can’t see any chart or map showing the location.
Around 20 years ago I took a 24 metre sailing yacht into Bali. I remember a very rickety berth in a very scrappy marina. So I’m interested to know where the new one will be in relation to the old one.