Lighthouses of Indonesia: Southeastern Java

The Republic of Indonesia has been independent since 1945 after having been the Dutch East Indies for more than 350 years. It is a huge country, stretching along both sides of the Equator for more than 46 degrees of longitude (roughly 5100 km or 3200 miles). Comprised of some 17,000 islands (more than 6000 inhabited islands), it has hundreds of major aids to navigation.

The island of Java (Jawa in Indonesian) is the heart of the country and home to 57% of the population. In fact, with more than 140 million residents it is the world's most populous island. The national capital, Jakarta, is on the northwestern coast of Java.

Indonesia is divided into 38 provinces (provinsi) and the provinces are subdivided into county units called regencies (kabupaten). This page includes lighthouses of the southeastern mainland regencies of East Java (Jawa Timur) Province; this includes lights of the Bali Strait to the east of Java and the Indian Ocean to the south. Lighthouses of the northeastern mainland regencies are described on the Northeastern Java page. In addition to the east end of Java, East Java Province also includes the island of Madura and a number of nearby smaller islands; their lighthouses are also described on a separate page.

More than 700 languages are spoken in Indonesia. The official national language, Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia), was standardized from a form of Malay that served as a lingua franca across the archipelago. In Indonesian a lighthouse is a mercusuar or a menara suar. Tanjung is a cape, ujung is a headland or point of land, bukit is a hill, sungai is a river, kuala or muara is an estuary or river mouth, pulau is an island, karang is a reef, batu is a rock, laut is a sea, selat is a strait, teluk is a bay, pelabuhan is a harbor, and labuhan is a port.

The original Dutch names of historic lighthouses, if known, are shown in curly brackets {}.

Aids to navigation in Indonesia are operated and maintained by the Directorate of Marine Navigation within the Directorate General of Sea Transportation

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume Q of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
Leuchttürme in Indonesien
Photos posted by Andreas Köhler.
Lighthouses in Indonesia
Wikimedia photos, including a collection of historic photos from the collection of the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam.
World of Lighthouses - Indonesia
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Online List of Lights - Indonesia - Java South Coast
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
Indonesia
Historic postcard views from the collection of Michel Forand.
Leuchttürme Asiens, Australiens, und Ozeaniens auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Tanjung Bansering Range Rear Light, Banyuwangi, August 2023
Google Maps street view

East Coast (Bali Strait) Lighthouses

The Bali Strait separates Java from the smaller island of Bali to the east, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Bali Sea. The strait narrows northward to a width of only 2.4 km (1.5 mi) at its northern end. A bridge over the strait has been proposed but has not been approved. Banyuwangi Regency includes all of the west coast of the Bali Strait.

Banyuwangi Regency: Northern Bali Strait Lighthouses
Pulau Tabuan {Duiven Eiland} (2)
Date unknown (station established 1871). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) round barbell-shaped white fiberglass tower standing atop a round concrete tower. Nanda Fajar Shodiq has a 2024 aerial view, Long Priyono has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was a skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Located on a small island in the Bali Sea marking the west side of the northern entrance to the Bali Strait. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1249; NGA 23774.
* Tanjung Bansering Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white flash every 4 s. 20 m (66 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Google has the closeup 2023 street view seen at the top of this page and a satellite view. This important range guides vessels northbound through the narrowest passage of the Bali Strait. Accessible by road. Located in the village of Bengkak, at the northern end of the strait. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1250.1; NGA 23780.
Tanjung Bansering Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A closeup 2022 photo is at right and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on the shore of the strait, 500 m (0.3 mi) south of the rear light. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1250; NGA 23776.
Semen Gresik Banyuwangi
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) square white skeletal tower. Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at a Semen Gresik (Gresik Cement) plant about 40 km (25 mi) north of Banyuwangi, the regency capital. Site and tower closed. Admiralty Q1256.5.

Banyuwangi Regency: Banyuwangi Harbor Lighthouses
* Pelabuhan Tanjung Wangi
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 15 m (49 ft); continuous red light. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower. Trabas has Bjørn Poulsen's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront of Tangung Wangi, an industrial port north of Banyuwangi. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1257; NGA 23788.

Tanjung Bansering Range Front Light, Banyuwangi, January 2022
Google Maps photo by febby editor
Pertamina Tanjung Wangi (1)
Date unknown. Inactive since 2024. This light must have been atop one of the large tanks of the the Pertamina oil terminal at Tangung Wangi. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. In March 2024 the Admiralty dropped its listing for Q1257.35, keeping Q1257.3 as the only listing for this harbor. However it seems likely that the active light is on the skeletal tower (next entry). Site and tower closed. ex-Admiralty Q1257.3.
Pertamina Tanjung Wangi (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 18 m (59 ft); four white flashes every 8 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical white skeletal tower. The light is visible near the right edge of Hsse Ittwi's drone view and Google has a satellite view. Located at the base of the pier at the Pertamina oil terminal at Tangung Wangi. Site and tower closed. Admiralty Q1257.3 (ex-Q1257.35).
[Pelabuhan Ketapang]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 20 m (66 ft); five white flashes every 15 s. Approx. 18 m (59 ft) mast. Taufik Subarkah has a street view (from a ship) and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Ketapang is the busy terminal for ferries bound across the Bali Strait to Gilimanuk, Bali. The Admiralty lists this light only as Pulau Jawa. In March 2024 the Admiralty dropped its listing for Q1257.38, keeping Q1257.4 as the only listing for this harbor. Located at the end of a short pier at the south end of the ferry piers at Ketapang in Banyuwangi. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1257.4 (ex-Q1257.38).
Semen Bosowa Banyuwangi
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) square cylindrical white skeletal tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located at the Semen Bosawa LNG terminal on the south side of Banyuwangi. Site and tower closed. Admiralty Q1258.14.
* [Banyuwangi Boom Beach]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 10 m (33 ft) white post on a square white concrete base. Rizki Moedjihadi has a closeup photo, Ahmad Faizal Muttaqin has a 2023 drone view, Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the edge of the beach south of the harbor at Banyuwangi. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1258.16.

Banyuwangi Regency: Southern Bali Strait Lighthouses
* Muncar
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 20 m (66 ft); green light, pattern unknown. Approx. 16 m (52 ft) green mast centered on a square 1-story concrete base. Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the main quay at Muncar, a city of about 100,000 residents near the southeastern corner of Java. Ste open, tower closed. Not listed by the Admiralty.
Tanjung Sembulungan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post with buttressed base carrying a platform for the light. Ruth Suratmi has a closeup photo and a Google has a satellite view. Located near the end of a long, north-pointing, densely-forested peninsula that shelters the Java coast in the southern portion of the Bali Strait. Probably accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1261; NGA 23806.
Tanjung Slokah
2011. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 6 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower mounted on a square 1-story equipment building. Lighthouse painted white. Meneng Radio posted the 2022 photo seen at right, Ariedwisoebekto Kariman has a 2011 closeup photo of the then-new lighthouse, and Google has a good satellite view. Tanjung Slokah is the extreme southeastern tip of Java; it's surprising that there has never been a lighthouse on this important cape until now. Located near the end of land. Probably accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1261.2.
 

Tanjung Slokah Light, Banyuwangi, November 2022
Google Maps photo by Meneng Radio

South Coast (Indian Ocean) Lighthouses

Jember Regency Lighthouses
#Bedadung (Watangan, Pantai Pancer) (1)
Date unknown. Inactive since 2014. This was an approx. 35 m (115 ft) tapered square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. 1-story keeper's house. Google's May 2015 street view shows this tower standing beside the newer one (next entry) but its satellite view and 2023 street view show that the old tower has been removed. Located near the beach at Puger, about 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Jember. Site status unknown.
* Bedadung (Watangan, Pantai Pancer) (2)
2014. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); white flash every 4 s. Approx. 35 m (115 ft) octagonal tower with lantern and two galleries. Lighthouse painted white. Google's 2023 street view is at right, Ach Suaeb has a photo, Isyak Junaedi has a 2018 drone view and Google also has a satellite view. Located in front of the earlier lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1261.5; NGA 23821.
Pulau Barung (Nusa Barung)
2007. Active; focal plane 145 m (476 ft); two white flashes every 12 s. 40 m (131 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white, rising from a 2-story station building. Rudi Gunawan has a 2023 photo and Google has a satellite view of the station. Located on a heavily forested island about 20 km (13 mi) southwest of the Bedadung light station. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1261.8.

Malang Regency Lighthouse
Sempu (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white flash every 4 s. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) square white skeletal tower. Theo Lewakabessy has a 2020 view, Dimas Budikusuma has a 2023 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory at the entrance to a bay protected by Pulau Sempu. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1262; NGA 23821.2.

Trenggalek Regency Lighthouses
Ujung Siklapa (Pulau Siklopo, Teluk Segoro Wegi)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); white flash every 3 s. NGA provides no description of this lighthouse but a Google satellite view seems to reveal a rmast with gallery. This light marks the entrance to the protected Prigi Bay and the fishing port of Prigi. Located on a promontory about 30 km (19 mi) south of Durenan. May be accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1262.5; NGA 23821.3.

Bedadung Light, Puger, August 2023
Google Maps street view
Pulau Sekel
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) square white skeletal tower. Ariedwisoebekto Kariman has the photo at right but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. Located on a rocky reef about 20 km (13 mi) south of Munjungan. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1262.6.
Pulau Panehan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 150 m (492 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. The lighthouse is seen from the sea in a YouTube video and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a small island about 13 km (8 mi) southwest of Munjungan. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1262.7.

Pacitan Regency Lighthouses
Teluk Panggul (PLN Pacitan)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 10 s. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower. Muhammad Irfan Rosyidi has a photo (tower on the left) and Google has a satellite view. Located at the PLN power plant at Panggul Bay about 25 km (15 mi) east of Pacitan. Site and tower closed. Admiralty Q1265.73.
Teluk Panggul West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 15 m (49 ft); red light, pattern unknown. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) round tower. A photo is available, the light is visible right of center in Dedi Shah's view of the bay and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a short breakwater on the west side of Panggul Bay.Site and tower closed. Admiralty Q1265.75.

Pulau Sekel Light, December 2011
Google Maps photo by Ariedwisoebekto Kariman
Tanjung Lorog (Lorog Cape)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) round barbell-shaped white fiberglass tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. A view from the beach is available and Google has a satellite view. Located just off the Pidakan beach about 16 km (10 mi) east of Pacitan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1262.79.
Tanjung Ngamber (Teluk Pacitan) {Patjitan}
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 50 m (164 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 30 m (98 ft) tapered square white skeletal tower. A 2024 photo is at right, Farid Rizal has a closeup 2018 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the east side of the entrance to the circular harbor of Pacitan. Site status unknown. DSI-4122.8; Admiralty Q1262.8; NGA 23821.5.
* Pacitan Harbor
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. A 2017 closeup photo is available, Google has a street view, and Bing has a satellite view. Located at the Tamperan ferry terminal at the west end of Pacitan. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1262.85.
Tamperan (Tanjung Kowang)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round barbell-shaped red fiberglass tower mounted on a square concrete platform supported by concrete piles. Sulthan Shalahuddin has a 2018 photo, Fendi Kurnia also has a photo, Bayu Prabowo has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Probably accessible only by boat. Located on a rocky point at the western entrance to Pacitan Bay and Tamperan harbor. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1262.84.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:


Tanjung Ngamber Light, Pacitan, April 2024
Google Maps photo by Farid Rizal

Adjoining pages: East: Bali | Southwest: Southern Java | Northwest: Northeastern Java

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Posted April 13, 2006. Checked and revised September 21, 2024. Lighthouses: 25. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.