Fears for the safety of Bali’s fast boat industry as a boat caught fire at a port in Nusa Penida this weekend. The vessel, carrying 85 passengers, suddenly caught fire just as the boat’s teams had finished boarding all those who’d booked tickets.
Though there were no fatalities or injuries, the incident has left tourists shaken and the maritime tourism industry taking a moment to reflect.
Speaking to reporters after the fire was safely extinguished, the Head of Public Relations of Klungkung Police AKP Agus Widiono confirmed the incident occurred at Segitiga Emas Sampalan Port in Nusa Penida at 4pm on Sunday, 9th February.
It is believed that the boat caught fire due to electrical short-circuiting in the engine.
AKP Widiono reported that a loud bang was heard seconds after the engine was turned on. As the crew turned to look, smoke and flames appeared from one of the engines.
Boat crew and port officers are said to have jumped into action, using small fire extinguishers to tackle the blaze. AKP Widiono shared, “One [extinguisher] from the boat and one from the port area [was used]. The fire was extinguished in approximately two minutes.”
He added, “In the incident, there were no fatalities, and all passengers are safe,” and noted, “The cause of the fire of one of the boat engines is still unknown and is estimated to be due to a short circuit in the electricity.”
Despite the fire, the fast boat was allowed to continue on its journey to Sanur after the condition of the other engines had been checked by the Harbor Master and the crew.
According to the Harbor Master and the boat’s captain, there was no serious damage to the vessel, and the remaining four engines were still functioning normally.
They also confirmed that none other of the boat’s apparatus were burned so the service was deemed was still fit to depart. AKP Widiono concluded, “The boat has a capacity of 5 engines, and one engine burned while the other 4 engines were normal.”
The incident has caused a conversation over the safety record of Bali’s fast boat providers to resurface. With extreme winds triggered by Tropical Cyclone Seedling 96S impacting Bali Province this week, many tourists are thankful that some fast boat services have been canceled on safety grounds.
Tourists planning to travel between Bali, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, Lombok, and the Gili Islands this week should check in with their fast boat provider before traveling to the port.
Some departures were canceled over the weeks and more crossings are expected to be canceled or postponed until the conditions have become safer. Fishermen and boat crews operating in the waters around Bali have been advised of strong winds reaching 25 knots, and sea waves highest reaching 3.5 metres.
While many fast boat providers and captains conduct proper maintenance on their vessels, there have been longstanding concerns from the maritime tourism industry in Bali that the sector has not been prioritizing safety.
Though rare, this is not the first time a fast boat engine has caught fire or outrightly failed in recent years.
In May 2022, a tourist boat used for parasailing in Bali’s Tanjung Benoa caught fire. The boat’s crew and the six tourists who were on board all made it back to shore safely, but the boat owner was reported to have incurred losses of USD 55,000 after the blaze.
In January 2024, a fast boat crossing between Nusa Penida and Sanur sank after a serious engine failure. The vessel was carrying 23 passengers in addition to the crew.
The Kebo Iwa Express disaster has been noted as one of the worst fast-boat disasters in recent history, though there were no injuries or fatalities passengers were left traumatized and many lost high-value belongings and had essential travel documents damaged.
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