Bali - Gilis fast ferry sinks.

From Bali Discovery Tours

(1/5/2009) Bali Post reports that 35 foreign tourists and 5 local tourists had a close call with fate on Friday, January 2, 2009, when the fast ferry boat carrying them from Gili Trawangan (near Lombok) to Serangan Island at Bali sunk just miles of Bali's coast.

The Lian Sengiggi lost power and started taking on water near the Watu Klotok Temple in the Klungkung Regency.

Using life preservers the crew and passengers abandoned ship and made it to shore, some with the help of local fishermen who came to their assistance.

The passengers and crew were brought to the Mapolsek police station to make statements necessary to authorities in their investigations. According to Bali Post, a number of passengers rescued from the sea were not listed on the formal official manifest sent from Gili Trawangan, suggesting the ship was not in compliance with shipping rules.

The ship reportedly left Gili Trawangan at 12 noon and, after two hours into its journey, lost power and began to take on water. The ship quickly sank and the passengers, jumped into the sea where they held onto each other, forming three separate groups. Two of the groups managed to swim to shore at Jumpai, while the third group was carried by strong current to Kusamba beach where local fishing boats came to their rescue.

The ship's captain, Agus Purnomo, refused to comment to the press on the circumstances surrounding the loss of his ship, saying, "Frankly, I panicked. I can't explain anything. What's clear, the water suddenly rushed in. I don't remember anything more."

The ship carried a crew of 4 with the 40 tourists hailing from Indonesia, Sweden, Australia, Switzerland, Great Britain and Germany.


© Bali Discovery Tours

Wow. It does get pretty rough this time of year. I have always been a bit suss about these 'fast' boats and how safe they are on that crossing. Give me the plane any day.

Yeah we took the 'fast boat' to Lombok last year. 2.5hr trip of hell!!! Suffice to say, we flew back to Bali after our Lombok holiday... Honestly, it was so dangerous and our kidneys/backs were killing us afterwards! Not just us - all passengers were freaking out! Oh well, just another experience to talk about i guess

At this time of year the winds and waves are pretty strong. I belive the regular ferry has turned back a few times in the last few days. Which is why Made flew today! It's just as scarey in the air in strong winds but at least it is over quicker!

Oh Dear, will it be scarey and windy at the end of April?? Eeek!

No April should be okay. Made went back by ferry and said although it was still windy the waves were back to normal and the ferry ran to schedule, which was great seeing as they had actually ended up suspending services for two days due to the poor conditions.

I took the fast boat, Blue Water Safaris,in October 2008 and it was fine. It was sooooo worth it to get right on over and start relaxing In fact it was so well run and convienient I am booked again for March. I hope the ocean cooperates again this time!

Thanks for the info!

lovethegillis wrote:

I took the fast boat, Blue Water Safaris,in October 2008 and it was fine. It was sooooo worth it to get right on over and start relaxing In fact it was so well run and convienient I am booked again for March. I hope the ocean cooperates again this time!

Lovethegillis,you can minimize the time at sea by taking the Gilicat from Padangbai(I took it in April 2008 and it was fine!)

l