A speedboat carrying 80 people capsized while attempting to enter the Sanur Port channel in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday afternoon (5 August 2025), resulting in the deaths of two Chinese tourists and leaving one Indonesian crew member missing.
The Bali Dolphin Cruise 2 departed from Nusa Penida Port at approximately 2:30 PM local time, en route to Sanur. At around 3:10 PM, as the vessel approached the port’s red and green buoys, the captain reportedly steered to the left in preparation to dock. A wave measuring approximately 2–5 metres struck the left side of the vessel, causing it to capsize roughly 100–150 metres from the pier.
The incident occurred under what were initially reported as calm seas and mild wind conditions. The ship’s manifest listed 75 passengers: 73 of them foreign nationals and two Indonesian citizens, along with five crew members. A total of 77 people were safely evacuated, two were confirmed dead, and one crew member remains missing.
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The deceased have been identified as Shi Guo Hong (male, 20) and Hanqing Yu (female, 37), both Chinese nationals. The missing crew member, Kadek Adi Jaya Dinata, a 23-year-old Indonesian male, is still being searched for by the Joint Search and Rescue (SAR) Team.
“The Chinese nationals (the deceased victims) were already evacuated by nearby residents,” said I Nyoman Sidakarya, Head of the Bali Basarnas Office, on Tuesday in Denpasar.
Basarnas received the alert at 4:25 PM local time and immediately deployed eight personnel. Five responders were dispatched to the scene, and three others operated a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB). The SAR team, assisted by residents’ boats, also utilised thermal drones to support the aerial search.
According to officials, all surviving passengers were taken to Bali Mandara Hospital and the Bali Medical Centre Clinic (BMCC).
Government Responds, Investigations Underway
The Indonesian Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, expressed regret over the incident and promised a swift evaluation of safety procedures.
We express our condolences and regret over the capsizing of the Bali Dolphin Cruise 2 fast boat in the entrance channel of Sanur Port, Bali. On behalf of the government, we apologise and will handle and evaluate this incident swiftly,” said the Minister, as quoted by ANTARA.
The Ministry of Transportation also released an official statement via the Directorate General of Sea Transportation. Based on the report from the Head of the Class II Benoa Port Authority (KSOP), the vessel was already inside the port’s navigational channel when it was struck by a sudden wave and overturned.
“The Bali Dolphin Cruise 2 vessel is currently grounded in an overturned position, and efforts to stabilise and secure the location are underway. Additionally, Sanur Port has been temporarily closed by the local port authority to support evacuation and SAR operations,” the statement read.
Evacuation was conducted with assistance from KNP. 515, Denpasar SAR’s RIB, and several local vessels. The first action taken involved deploying the ship’s life raft to help move passengers to shore.
A navigational warning has been issued by the Benoa Vessel Traffic Service to avoid further maritime accidents in the area. An Emergency Command Post has also been set up by the Port Authority to coordinate search and rescue efforts, which continue amid challenging wave conditions.
“This statement may be quoted on behalf of Muhammad Masyhud, Director General of Maritime Transportation,” the ministry noted.
This incident follows a series of maritime accidents in Indonesia during July 2025, including the sinking of a boat in the Sipora Strait and the burning of the Barcelona V vessel near Talise Island, which carried over 570 passengers.
