Eleven European tourists and one Indonesian crew member have been rescued after a speedboat sank in the waters of Tomini Bay, while search and rescue teams continue to look for the vessel’s missing captain.
The speedboat departed from a diving resort in Tojo Una-Una Regency, Central Sulawesi, on Friday morning and was scheduled to arrive at Marisa Port in Gorontalo.
However, the vessel failed to reach its destination, prompting a search operation after authorities were alerted on Friday at approximately 3.40 pm Central Indonesian Time (WITA).
Heriyanto, Head of the Gorontalo Search and Rescue Office, said the report was submitted by a tour guide after the boat failed to arrive as scheduled.
“Yes, thank God, 12 people have been found, only one crew member, the speedboat captain, is still missing,” Heriyanto said, as quoted by detikSulsel.
He explained that rescue teams began searching immediately after receiving the report.
“Concerns arose when the speedboat hadn’t arrived by the afternoon. We immediately launched a search operation that night,” he said.
The boat was carrying five tourists from the Netherlands, three from Germany, and one each from the Czech Republic, Belgium and France, along with two Indonesian crew members.
Search teams deployed dozens of personnel across an area of approximately 300 square nautical miles in Tomini Bay. The operation was supported by thermal drones, diving equipment and multiple rescue assets. Although weather forecasts indicated generally fair conditions, strong winds and waves of up to 2.5 metres complicated the search.
Captain remains missing as search enters next phase
On Saturday afternoon, search and rescue personnel located all 11 foreign tourists and one crew member alive. However, the vessel’s 29-year-old captain, identified as Ferdiansyah, remains missing.
Heriyanto said search operations would continue in accordance with standard rescue procedures.
“We will continue search and rescue operations for the next seven days to find the captain,” he said.
According to the survivors, the speedboat encountered severe weather during the journey. They told authorities that the vessel’s hull split before it sank, forcing passengers to abandon the boat using a life raft.
The captain reportedly became separated from the group after visibility deteriorated because of thick fog.
“The captain is believed to have remained on board the boat when the hull split in two before finally sinking,” Heriyanto said, as quoted by the Associated Press.
All rescued passengers have since been evacuated to a resort in Tojo Una-Una Regency, where they are receiving assistance.
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Basarnas continues coordinated search effort
Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) confirmed that all passengers except the captain had been located safely.
Rusmadi, Head of Operations at the Palu Search and Rescue Agency, said coordination between regional rescue offices remains ongoing.
“Based on information from the Head of the Gorontalo SAR Office, the victims have been found. However, the boat’s captain, Ferdiansyah, has not been found yet,” Rusmadi said in Palu, as quoted by Antara.
He added that the Palu Search and Rescue Agency has deployed the rescue vessel KN SAR Bhisma to assist the joint operation.
“The Palu Basarnas is still deploying the special vessel KN SAR Bhisma to conduct the search and is joining the joint SAR team to assist in the search operation,” he said.
