Three individuals died in a boat mishap involving tourists near Bali.
In the latest maritime tragedy to hit Indonesia, a tourist boat named Dolphin II capsized near the harbor entrance of Sanur, Bali, on Tuesday afternoon. The incident resulted in three fatalities - two Chinese tourists and an Indonesian crew member - and several reported injuries. A 23-year-old, initially missing, was found in the water about 100 meters from the accident scene in the early hours of the morning.
This unfortunate event comes amidst a series of deadly incidents at sea in Indonesia, a country heavily reliant on ferry and boat traffic due to its archipelagic nature. In July alone, a fire broke out on a ferry with hundreds of passengers in the North Sulawesi province, killing at least five people, and a ferry carrying 65 passengers and crew sank between Java and Bali, with only about half of them surviving.
The causes of these accidents are currently under investigation, but concerns about maritime safety in Indonesia are not new. The country's vast and busy waterways are often subjected to hazardous meteorological events like cyclones and high waves, which Indonesia is structurally unprepared to handle. Overloading of boats to maximise profits and skipping necessary maintenance or repairs on engines and hulls further increase risks.
Investigations into recent incidents such as the Bali Strait ferry sinking and ferry fires off Sulawesi highlight rough weather combined with vessel seaworthiness and crew safety compliance issues as major contributing factors. These challenges lead to frequent disasters with significant loss of life in one of the world's largest archipelagic nations.
Addressing these issues, Indonesian authorities and lawmakers are proposing measures like imposing an age limit on operating vessels and conducting stricter inspections to improve safety standards. There is also international attention and cooperation efforts focused on improving maritime safety and disaster response in Indonesia and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The scale of the problem is reflected in statistics: Indonesia has recorded over 190 major maritime transport incidents in the past decade, with more than 787 lives lost. Maritime safety remains a matter of chance rather than assured in Indonesia, prompting calls for systemic reform.
As the country continues to grapple with these challenges, the hope is that the tragic incidents will serve as a wake-up call for more stringent measures to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew, and to protect the livelihoods of those who depend on maritime transport.
[1] BBC News. (2021, July 30). Indonesia ferry disaster: At least 23 dead and 18 missing. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57979542
[2] The Guardian. (2021, July 30). At least 23 dead as Indonesian ferry sinks in Java Sea. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/30/at-least-23-dead-as-indonesian-ferry-sinks-in-java-sea
[3] The Jakarta Post. (2021, August 5). Australia, Indonesia to boost maritime cooperation. Retrieved from https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2021/08/05/australia-indonesia-to-boost-maritime-cooperation.html
[4] The Straits Times. (2021, July 30). Indonesia: At least 23 dead as ferry sinks in Java Sea. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/world/indonesia/indonesia-at-least-23-dead-as-ferry-sinks-in-java-sea
- Despite the ongoing concern in war-and-conflicts and general-news headlines, the frequent maritime accidents in Indonesia, such as the recent sinking of a ferry in the Java Sea, have become a major point of concern and international cooperation, as demonstrated by the recent agreement between Australia and Indonesia to boost maritime cooperation.
- As evidenced by the high number of recorded major maritime transport incidents over the past decade, with more than 787 lives lost, and tragic events like the Bali Strait ferry sinking and ferry fires off Sulawesi, the issue of maritime safety in Indonesia continues to be a significant concern, requiring systemic reform and stricter inspections to ensure car-accidents and crime-and-justice incidents do not happen due to vessel seaworthiness and crew safety compliance issues.
- Simultaneously, the ongoing political discussions among Indonesian authorities and lawmakers to implement measures like imposing an age limit on operating vessels and conducting stricter inspections to improve safety standards, shed light on the importance of addressing maritime safety issues, as the country grapples with a persistent series of deadly incidents at sea and strives to protect the livelihoods of those who depend on maritime transport amidst a series of war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, accidents, and car-accidents.
