Captain Sentenced to Two Years for Negligence in Fatal Bali Boat Capsizing

The Denpasar District Court has sentenced I Kadek Ariawan, the captain of the Bali Dolphin Cruise 2, to two years in prison after finding him guilty of negligence that caused the deaths of two Chinese nationals and one crew member. Presiding Judge Syahbuddin delivered the verdict on Tuesday, stating the defendant’s carelessness led to the vessel capsizing and sinking in the Sanur Harbour channel on 5 August 2025. The judge noted the sentence was lighter than the 3.5-year prison term sought by prosecutors. Mitigating factors included the defendant’s polite demeanour during the trial, his admission of guilt, forgiveness from the victims’ families, and compensation paid by the company operating the vessel. The prosecution had charged Ariawan under Article 474, paragraph (3) of the 2023 Criminal Code. The indictment detailed that the captain failed to check and count the actual number of passengers before departing from Banjar Nyuh Harbour, Nusa Penida. He relied solely on a manifest listing 75 passengers, while the vessel was carrying 80 people, including five crew members. Five passengers were not recorded on the manifest, and eight were situated in the captain’s cabin. As the boat entered the Sanur Harbour channel, the captain briefly reduced speed to wait for large waves to pass but then decided to proceed. The vessel was struck by a large wave from behind, causing it to capsize and sink. The accident resulted in the deaths of two Chinese tourists, Yu Hanqing and Shi Guohong, and crew member Kadek Adijaya Dinata, all of whom showed signs of drowning. Both the defendant and the public prosecutor stated they would consider the verdict before deciding on an appeal.