Lighthouses of Indonesia: Southeastern Sumatra

Indonesia is a huge country of Southeast Asia, stretching along both sides of the Equator for more than 46 degrees of longitude (roughly 5100 km or 3200 miles). It occupies 17,504 islands, by official count, including more than 6000 inhabited islands. It is the world's fourth most populous nation with a population currently estinated at about 280 million. More than half of the population lives on the island of Java. Other major islands include Sumatra in the west, Borneo (shared with Malaysia and Brunei) in the northwest, Sulawesi in the northeast, and the eastern half of New Guinea in the far east. Other well known islands include Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, and Timor (shared with independent East Timor) along the south side of the country.

The unification of the country was accomplished over many years of struggle by Dutch colonial authorities. The Dutch East India Company was founded in 1602 to establish and extend Dutch administration, and after the company folded in 1800 the Netherlands established the Dutch East Indies colony and gradually extended its boundaries to include the present territory of Indonesia. During World War II Japan occupied the islands from March 1942 to the end of the war in 1945. The Republic of Indonesia proclaimed its independence immediately after the war ended and following some conflict the Netherlands accepted the country's independence in 1949.

Sumatra (Sumatera in Indonesian) is the world's sixth largest island and the westernmost of the major islands of Indonesia. It is separated from Malaysia to the north by the Malacca Strait, from Kalimantan (Borneo) to the northeast by the broad Karimata Strait, and from Java to the southeast by the Sunda Strait. Its south coast faces the open Indian Ocean.

Indonesia is divided into 38 provinces (provinsi) and the provinces are subdivided into county units called regencies (kabupaten). Sumatra includes eight of the provinces. This page includes lighthouses of Sumatra's southeastern coast including the provinces of Jambi and South Sumatra. For the most part this coast faces narrow inlets of the Natuna Sea to the north and the Java Sea to the east, including the Berhala and Bangka Straits separating Sumatra from the Riau Islands and the island of Bangka, repectively.

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.

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
Lighthouses in Indonesia
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia; most of the photos are historic.
World of Lighthouses - Indonesia
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Online List of Lights - Indonesia
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
GPS Nautical Charts
Navigational chart information for southeastern Sumatra.
Navionics Charts
Navigational chart for southeastern Sumatra.

Tanjung Jabung Light, Sadu, Jambi, September 2019
Google Maps photo by M.farsyah Septa Hartawan

Jambi Province Lighthouses

Jambi Province includes a large area of southern Sumatra. Tanjung Jabung separates its coast into two sections, the northern section facing north on the Berhala Strait and the southern section facing east on the Natuna Sea north of the island of Bangka. The Berhala Strait separates Sumatra from Singkep Island in southern Riau Islands Province southwest of Singapore. The strait is generally 25-40 km (15-25 mi) wide.

West Tanjung Jabung Regency Lighthouse
* Kuala Tungkal
Date unknown. Active (?); focal plane about 13 m (43 ft); light characteristics unknown. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) square skeletal tower. A distant photo is available and Google has a street view and an indistinct satellite view. This light is probably active but is charted as inactive by Navionics. Located on the public pier at Kuala Tungkal, a town on the south side of the mouth of the Tungkal Ruver. Site open, tower closed. Not listed by the Admiralty.

East Tanjung Jabung Regency: Jambi River Lighthouses
The Jambi River is a western distributary of the Batang Hari River, Sumatra's longest river; it is navigable to the provincial capital Jambi City.

Tanjung Solok Jambi
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white (?) flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) skeletal tower. No photo available but a Bing satellite view may locate the lighthouse. Navionics charts the light as having a green flash, which would be appropriate for its location. Located on the west side of the entrance to the Jambi River. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0972.9.
Kuala Niur Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) white tower on a platform supported by piles. No photo available but Bing has a satellite view. This is the entrance range for the Jambi River and the small port of Niur, on the west bank of the river. Located in mid river opposite the town. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0973; NGA 22744.
Kuala Niur Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 6 s. 30 m (98 ft) square white skeletal tower. No photo available and clouds obscure Bing's a satellite view. Located in the forest on the east side of the Jambi River. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0973.1; NGA 22748.
Sungai Jambi Lower Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 22 m (72 ft); white light, pattern unknown. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) square white skeletal tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. This range guides vessels downstream. Located in the forest on the east side of the Jambi River about 16 km (10 mi) south of the mouth. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0973.41.
Sungai Jambi Lower Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 15 m (49 ft); white light, pattern unknown. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) square white skeletal tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the Jambi River about 120 m (400 ft) south of the rear light. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0973.4.
Muara Sabak Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 22 m (72 ft); white light, pattern unknown. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) square white skeletal tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. This range guides vessels downstream past the river port of Muara Sabak. Located in the forest on the west side of the Jambi River about 21 km (13 mi) south of the mouth. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0973.71.
Muara Sabak Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 15 m (49 ft); white light, pattern unknown. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) square white skeletal tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the Jambi River about 100 m (330 ft) south of the rear light. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0973.7.

East Tanjung Jabung Regency: Berhala Strait Lighthouses
Tanjung Jabung (Selat Berhala)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); three white flashes every 14 s. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. Four 1-story coast guard buildings. A photo by M.farsyah Septa Hartawan is at the top of this page, Zaidaan Arrahman has a 2023 photo, and Bing has a satellite view of the station. Located on Tanjung Jabung, the mainland cape on the south side of the entrance to Berhala Strait, which separates the mainland from Pulau Singkap near the southern end of Riau Province. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-273; Admiralty Q0975; NGA 22726.
Pulau Berhala (2)
Around 2012. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white light, 5 s on, 10 s off. 21 m (69 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. Muhammad Yani's photo is at right and Bing has an indistinct satellite view. The earlier lighthouse was a square pyramidal skeletal tower. Pulau Berhala is a small island in the middle of the Berhala Strait, which separates the Linga Islands from the Sumatran mainland. Note: There is another Pulau Berhala off northern Sumatra, and another off the coast of Sabah in East Malaysia. Jurisdiction over this Pulau Berhala was in dispute between Jambi Province and the Riau Islands Province for many years but this dispute was resolved in Jambi's favor in 2011. Located on an islet a few miles east northeast of Pulau Berhala. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-111; Admiralty Q0976; NGA 22728.

Pulau Berhala Light, Berhala Strait, October 2012
Google Maps photo by Muhammad Yani

South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan) Province

South Sumatra Province is the largest of the eight Sumatran provinces. Most of its coast faces the Bangka Strait, which separates Sumatra from the island of Bangka. Lighthouses on the east side of the strait are described on the Bangka and Belitung page. The southern section of the province's coast faces east on the west end of the Java Sea.

Banyuasin Regency: Banyuasin River Lighthouses
Tanjung Kampeh (2)
2015. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) "white beacon" on a platform supported by piles. No photo available but Bing has an indistinct satellite view. Google has a satellite view of the first lighthouse, 80 m (265 ft) to the east; it has been removed. Located off the north side of the mouth of the Banyuasin River, a short distance south of the northern entrance to the Bangka Strait. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0931; NGA 22752.
Tanjung Apiapi (Api-Api)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) white concrete post with gallery mounted on a triangular platform supported by piles. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located just off Tanjung Api-Api on the south side of the Banyuasin River. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0930.
Medco Musi Banyuasin
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) green tower (probably fiberglass) on a platform supported by piles. No photo available and the light is not shown in Bing's satellite view. Located near the center of the Banyuasin River estuary off Pelabuhan Tanjung Api-Api. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0929.9.
* [Pelabuhan Tanjung Api-Api]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 10 m (33 ft); red light, pattern unknown. Approx. 10 m (33 ft) post on a triangular platform supported by piles. A sunset photo is available and Google has a satellite view. Located off the end of the ferry pier at Pelabuhan Tanjung Api-Api. Site open, tower closed. Charted by Navionics but not lised by the Admiralty.

Banyuasin Regency: Musi (Palembang) River Lighthouses
The lights in this section guide vessels on the Musi River, one of Sumatra's largest rivers, to the city of Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra Province and second largest city on the island.

Sungai Palembang Outer Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white light, 2 s on, 3 s off. 15 m (49 ft) square white skeletal tower carrying a triangular daymark and mounted on a platform supported by piles. No photo available and the light is not shown in Google's satellite view. The front light is on a 6 m (20 ft) skeletal tower on a platform. Both the Admiralty and NGA seem confused as to the ordering of these two ranges; NGA calls this the inner range. Located about 3 km (1.8 mi) southeast of Tanjung Kampeh. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0934.1; NGA 22768.
Sungai Palembang Inner Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white light, 3 s on, 1 s off. 13 m (43 ft) square white skeletal tower carrying a triangular daymark and mounted on a platform supported by piles. No photo available and the light is not shown in Google's satellite view. The front light is on a short post on a platform. Both the Admiralty and NGA seem confused as to the ordering of these two ranges; NGA calls this the entrance range. Located in the broad entrance to the Banyuasin and Musi Rivers. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0932.1; NGA 22760.
Tanjung Buyut (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); continuous white light. 30 m (98 ft) square white skeletal tower carrying a radar antenna. Several station buildings; this is a coast guard and vessel traffic control station. Eriko Utama's 2021 street view is at right, Galih Primara has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. The Admiralty and NGA describe the light as a mast. Located on the west side just above the mouth of the Musi River. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0936; NGA 22770.
Pulau Payung Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); quick-flashing white light. 13 m (43 ft) "white beacon," probably a skeletal tower, on a platform supported by piles. No photo available and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This range guides ships as they enter the Musi River. Located off the north end of Pulau Payung. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0937.
Pulau Payung Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; white light, pattern unknown. No description available, probably a skeletal tower. No photo available but Bing's cloud-shadowed satellite view locates the lighthouse. Located at the edge ofPulau Payung about 500 m (0.3 mi) due south of the front light. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0937.1.
Sungsang Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 12 m (39 ft) white concrete post with gallery mounted on a square platform supported by piles. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. The light guides vessels approaching the village of Sungsang on the west side of the lower Musi River. Located on a swampy point opposite Sungsang. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0938; NGA 22772.
Sungsang Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 2.5 s. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) white tower. No photo available and the light is not seen in heavy forest in Google's satellite view. Located about 300 m (0.2 mi) southwest of the front light. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0938.1; NGA 22776.

Tanjung Buyut Light, Banyuasin, September 2021
Google Maps street view by Eriko Utama
Parit Range Front (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) white tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. NGA lists shorter towers for this range. Located on the east side of the Musi River. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0938.4; NGA 22780.
Parit Range Rear (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 27 m (89 ft) white tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located about 400 m (1/4 mi) south southeast of the front light. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0938.41; NGA 22784.
Pulau Kramat
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) square red skeletal tower. No photo available but Google has an indistinct satellite view. The Admiralty and NGA list this light as "Northeast of Kramat Island." Located in a bend of the Musi River about 25 km (15 mi) south of Sungsang. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0939; NGA 22788.
Jaran Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) square white skeletal tower. No photo available but Google has an indistinct satellite view. The range guides vessels in a long reach on the Musi River. The front light is on a 10 m (33 ft) post. Located on the west bank of the river about 32 km (20 mi) northeast of Palembang. May be accessible by road, if not on private property. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0941.41; NGA 22828.
Borang
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white (?) light, 2 s on, 3 s off. 15 m (49 ft) white skeletal (?) tower on a square concrete base. The light is seen at 0:27 in a 30-second Google Maps video and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This light acts as a leading light for both upstream and downstream traffic as vessels make a tight turn around Pulau Salah Nama, an island in the Musi River about 10 km (6 mi) east of Palembang. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q0943.4; NGA 22844.

Banyuasin Regency: Bangka Strait Lighthouse
Tanjung Katima Bongko
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 14 m (46 ft); white light, pattern unknown. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) white tower (probably skeletal) on a platform supported by piles. No photo available and the light is not shown in Google's satellite view. Located in the Bangka Strait off a swampy cape about 30 km (19 mi) east of the mouth of the Musi River. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0995.

Ogan Komering Ilir Regency Lighthouses
Tanjung Selokan (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 15 m (49 ft); three green flashes every 15 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) green barbell-shaped fiberglass tower. No photo available but Bing has a satellite view. NGA lists a shorter tower and the old light can also be seen in the satellite view. The light marks a sharp turn in the course of the Bangka Strait. Located off a prominent cape about 25 km (15 mi) east southeast of Tanjung Kampeh. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0993; NGA 22872.
Tanjung Tapa
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); green flash every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) square green skeletal tower on a platform supported by piles. M.Haris Wirayudha has the 2022 photo seen at right and Google has a satellite view. Located off a prominent cape about 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Tanjung Kampeh. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0991; NGA 22884.

Tanjung Tapa Light, Ogan Komering Ilir, January 2022
Google Maps phito by M.Haris Wirayudha
Tanjung Koyan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) white skeletal tower on a platform supported by piles. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located off a prominent cape about 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Tanjung Tapa. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q0989.
Pulau Maspari (Lucipara)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 5 s. 48 m (157 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. A photo is at right, Arwin Novansyah has a view from a nearby village, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse guides vessels approaching the southern entrance to the Bangka Strait. It is often grouped with the Bangka lighthouses, but the island is in South Sumatra province. Located on a small island about 13 km (8 mi) off the Sumatran coast at the southern entrance to the strait. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-024; Admiralty Q0983; NGA 22916.
Tanjung Menjangan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) "white beacon" on a platform supported by piles. No photo available and the light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located in the Java Sea about 5 km (3 mi) off a low cape and about 50 km (30 mi) south of Pulau Maspari. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1045.7; NGA 23383.5.

Information available on lost lighthouses:


Pulau Maspari Light, Bangka Strait, December 2020
Google Maps photo by Roni Kukuh S

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Eastern Sumatra | Northeast: Riau Islands | East: Bangka | South: Lampung

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Posted April 13, 2006. Checked and revised January 27, 2024. Lighthouses: 31. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.