Boat Captain Sentenced to Two Years for Sanur Sinking That Killed Three

The Denpasar District Court has sentenced the captain of the Bali Dolphin Cruise 2, I Kadek Ariawan (28), to two years in prison after finding him guilty of negligence that caused his vessel to capsize and sink in the waters off Sanur. The sentence was 1.5 years lighter than the term sought by prosecutors. The accident on 5 August 2025 resulted in the deaths of three people: two Chinese nationals, Yu Hanqing and Shi Guohong, and a crew member, Kadek Adijaya Dinata. Presiding Judge Syahbuddin stated that the defendant was proven to have been negligent in operating the ship, leading to the fatal incident. Ariawan was found to have violated Article 474, paragraph (3) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026. During the trial, the judge noted that the loss of three lives was an aggravating factor. Mitigating factors included the defendant’s polite demeanour in court, his admission of guilt, forgiveness from the victims’ families, and compensation provided by his employer. Both the defendant and the public prosecutor stated they were considering their options following the verdict. The prosecution revealed that the accident occurred as the ship sailed from Banjar Nyuh Port, Nusa Penida, to Sanur Pier. Ariawan failed to recheck the passenger count, relying solely on a manifest listing 75 passengers, whereas 80 people were actually on board. Five passengers were not on the manifest, and eight were situated in the wheelhouse. Approaching the Sanur harbour entrance around 3:30 p.m. local time, Ariawan reduced speed to wait for waves but then decided to enter the channel before the large swell subsided. The vessel was struck from behind by a wave, lost stability, capsized, and sank. Prosecutors argued that Ariawan, an experienced captain, should have understood the wave characteristics in Sanur waters and waited for safer conditions. They also highlighted the overloading, as the ship’s safety certificate permitted a maximum of 75 passengers and five crew, yet 80 people were aboard, reducing stability. Furthermore, the captain completed a master sailing declaration listing the permitted number of passengers, which was used to obtain sailing clearance. Post-mortem examinations confirmed all three victims died from drowning.