Bali

Bali's Benoa Harbour acts as the administrative gateway to Indonesian waters for visiting yachts. The CAIT (Clearance Approval for Indonesian Territory) permit — processed through the Indonesian Directorate General of Sea Communication — must be obtained before departure from the last foreign port. The permit specifies the exact route, ports of call, and duration of the cruise within Indonesian waters.

Insurance is a mandatory component of the CAIT application. The Indonesian authorities require evidence of hull and third-party liability insurance from an internationally recognized insurer. Lloyd's of London policies are universally accepted. Our policies are specifically structured to satisfy CAIT requirements, and we can provide a CAIT insurance certificate on request.

Beyond the administrative requirements, Bali's busy port environment creates practical insurance considerations. Benoa Harbour hosts commercial fishing vessels, fast ferries, and cargo ships alongside the recreational fleet. Third-party liability at USD 1,000,000 minimum is essential given the traffic density.

Bali is rarely a final destination for blue-water cruisers — it's the staging point for some of the world's most remote and spectacular sailing. The island sits at the western end of the Wallace Line, the biological divide between Asian and Australasian ecosystems, and the eastern passages lead through Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Komodo, and ultimately to the extraordinary diving waters of Raja Ampat.

Each island group requires its own port clearance stamped against the CAIT route plan. Deviation from the approved route requires an amendment to the CAIT — a process manageable but time-consuming. Sailors who plan their Indonesian cruise carefully, filing a comprehensive CAIT route from the outset, avoid the need for multiple amendments.

Insurance for the full Indonesian passage should explicitly list all planned cruising areas. A policy covering "Indonesian territorial waters" without restriction satisfies most CAIT requirements, but it is worth confirming with your underwriter that the Banda Sea, Flores Sea, and Ceram Sea are not subject to any geographic exclusions.