760 miles from Singapore
Surabaya (Dutch Soerabaja) city is at the mouth of the Mas River. It is the second largest city in Indonesia and the capital of East Java province. A major seaport and one of the chief commercial and trading centres of Asia, Surabaya is the terminus of a railway and highway that connect it to other Javanese cities.
The main city anchorage, anywhere in 8-12 metres, is in what is known as the ‘roadstead’ – an open harbour protected by nearby Madura Island. The huge commercial harbour is enclosed by breakwaters and contains floating docks and numerous quays, wharves, and storage warehouses.
Our recommended location is in shallower water east of the bridge outside Kenjeran Beach, where a high tide jetty is available for dinghy transfers. Anchor a half-mile east in 3-8 metres on the mud outside the sand breakwater’s 20-metre opening. The long wooden jetty just inside is only approachable at high tide and gives access to this bustling and industrial port city.
Although hectic and dirty, there are many boatyards, catering for domestic vessels, and plenty of general workshops. The most amazing sight in the city is the vast Phinisi docks where dozens of these traditional vessels’ bows are tied alongside each other connected by long walking planks to the main town docks.
Surabaya has limited facilities for visiting cruising yachts and theft has been a past problem in the main harbour. We mention it here for emergency shelter close to a thriving well-connected city, until a suitable yacht facility comes online.
