Captain of Sinking Pinisi Yukai Sanctioned, Seafarer Certificate Suspended for Two Months

The Class III Labuan Bajo Port Authority and Harbour Office (KSOP) has imposed sanctions on the captain of the pinisi vessel Yukai, which sank after striking a reef in the waters of Seture Island, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Sunday (27/09/2026).

KSOP Labuan Bajo has suspended the seafarer’s certificate of the captain, identified as Armansyah (32), for a period of two months. During this suspension period, the tour boat captain is prohibited from sailing.

“The sanction imposed on the captain is the suspension of his certificate,” stated the Head of KSOP Class III Labuan Bajo, Stephanus Risdiyanto, on Tuesday (29/09/2026).

Stephanus noted that the sanction was issued after KSOP Labuan Bajo conducted an investigation into the captain and the vessel. Negligence was found on the part of the captain during the vessel’s manoeuvring, which led to the collision with the reef.

“The investigation has been carried out, and negligence was found during the vessel’s manoeuvring,” said Stephanus.

It is reported that the Yukai pinisi sank after hitting a shallow reef. The vessel was carrying 13 tourists, consisting of seven foreign tourists and six domestic travellers, along with six crew members including the captain. All passengers and crew members were successfully evacuated safely to Labuan Bajo Marina by a joint SAR team.

The Yukai, an Indonesian-flagged vessel with a gross tonnage of 55 (GT 55), had departed from Labuan Bajo bound for Komodo Island and had obtained a Sailing Approval Letter (SPB) from KSOP Labuan Bajo.

The vessel, which was en route to Bidadari Island, had been sailing for approximately 15 minutes before striking the reef in the waters near Seture Island.

The ship suffered a leak in the hull, which ultimately caused it to sink.