Pontianak - General Info
Description:
Pontianak is the capital of the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan. It is a medium-size trading port city on the island of Borneo. The city centre is about 16 kms (10 miles) up the Kapuas River which is one of the largest rivers in South East Asia and less than three kms (two miles) south of the equator.
The city was founded as a small Malay fishing village and became part of the Republic of Indonesia after the Japanese surrendered at the end of World War II.
Pontianak is a multicultural city, with different ethnic groups such as the Dayak, Malay, Bugis people and Chinese living there. This has created a unique culture with many different languages spoken such as Pontianak Malay, Dayak and Chinese dialects as well as Bahasa Indonesia.
Cruiser highlights:
A good provisioning stop if travelling between the Anambas Islands or Riau Islands and Kumai in South Kalimantan. ATMs, pharmacies, supermarkets, diesel. Basic fibreglass repairs possible.
Entrance notes or cautions:
Extensive flats with depths around and below two meters prior to the river entrance. However, the shipping channel is being continuously dredged by the Port of Pontianak for merchant ships and is clearly marked with red and green lateral beacons. Depths from five to 15 meters inside the river.
Steer clear of soft sand build-ups near islands or small river inlets.
Note: Cruisers advise not to rely on Navionics charts for river navigation.
Position:
Channel Entrance – 00°05’ N 109°05’E
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Related to following destinations: Indonesia, North / Central Indonesia - Kalimantan, Pontianak
Port Navigation
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We also had our outboard stolen in the early morning hours in August 2017 while probably anchored close to where s/v Shakti was, halfway up the river to Pontianak. We then anchored off the Imm, Customs and Harbormaster building, but only stayed long enough to do our check out as this town does not feel safe. My advice is to go elsewhere! Evan on cat JAVA
Reported July 30th, 2017:
We would like to report a boarding at night and theft. Sailing yacht Shakti was anchored in the Kapuas river in Pontianak/Kalimantan/Indonesia in July 2017.
We were boarded at night while asleep and are secured and locked outboard was stolen. The outboard was mounted on the rail.
Also, the thieves tried to take our dinghy from the davits. Although the dinghy was chained on, the lines were all cut.
Mike Seidel
Yacht Shakti