The Bali police continue to investigate the circumstances of the accident involving two vessels. After the collision between the speedboat Wijaya Buyuk 1 and the dive boat Bintang Laut Diving, eight passengers were injured.
Among them were five foreigners and three Indonesian citizens. The incident occurred in the waters of Banjar Nyuh, near Nusa Penida.
According to the captain of Wijaya Buyuk 1, I Wayan Sarjana, the boat carrying 62 passengers and four crew members departed from Sanur at 07:20 local time and was supposed to arrive at Buyuk Harbor within half an hour. As they approached Nusa Penida, the captain noticed another vessel approaching at full speed. The boat, usually used for transporting divers, was moving erratically from the north.
Attempts to communicate were made, both by the captain shouting and by the passengers, but the boat did not respond and eventually crashed into the left rear side of the boat. The impact was such that the nose of the dive boat lifted and smashed through the rear window of the boat," said Nusa Penida Police Chief I Ketut Kesuma Jaya.
As a result of the collision, eight passengers were injured, four of whom are in serious condition. Among the injured are citizens of Indonesia, the USA, and South Korea.
All the victims received first aid at the Nusa Medica Clinic, and a few hours later they were transferred to BMC Hospital in Denpasar.
The police stated they will tighten control over maritime routes, especially during periods of increased tourist flow.
"We urge all boat operators to always comply with standard operating procedures (SOP) for navigation, pay attention to speed, range of vision, and ensure good communication between vessels. Passenger safety is our top priority," emphasized Kesuma.
Meanwhile, the state company Pelni announced that it has completed inspection of four of its large motor vessels, each with a capacity of 1,500 passengers. The ferries were inspected in Benoa (Denpasar) and Surabaya ports and deemed fully ready for operation.
The vessels will serve key routes in Eastern Indonesia, including Lombok, Labuan Bajo, and East Nusa Tenggara.
You can add one right now!