Speedboat Incident in Tomini Bay: 12 Rescued, One Crew Member Still Missing
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Ministry of Transport, through the Directorate General of Sea Communication (Ditjen Hubla), has provided the latest update on the loss of contact and sinking of the speedboat SB Mister Un (GT 2) in the waters of Tomini Bay, Gorontalo.
According to the manifest, the vessel was carrying 13 people, comprising 11 foreign national passengers and 2 crew members. As of Saturday (25/7/2026) afternoon, the Joint SAR Team had evacuated all passengers in a safe condition, while search operations are now focused on one crew member who remains missing.
Director General of Sea Communication Muhammad Masyhud said all survivors had been evacuated and were receiving medical treatment.
“Based on the data update on Saturday (25/7/2026) at 15.00 WITA, the Joint SAR Team found 12 people alive, including 11 foreign national passengers. All survivors have been evacuated to Sanctum Resort in Una-Una for initial treatment, and were then taken to Ampana Regional Hospital for further medical examination,” Masyhud said.
Regarding the one victim yet to be found, Masyhud assured that all SAR elements were continuing to intensify the search at the scene.
“At present, one crew member, the skipper named Ferdiansyah, is still the subject of the search. The Joint SAR Team is combing the waters around the area where the survivors were found,” he added.
As a response measure, the Class III Ampana Port Authority (UPP) has set up a handling post to coordinate search and rescue operations.
Chronology: Engine Failure and Bad Weather
The speedboat, operated by PT Farmaz Jaya Abadi, departed from Una-Una Port, within the working area of UPP Class III Ampana, bound for Marisa Port, Gorontalo, on Friday (24/7/2026) at 07.30 WITA.
Based on initial information from the field, SB Mister Un suffered a technical problem in the form of engine failure, which was worsened by hydrometeorological conditions, eventually causing the vessel to sink near the area where the victims were found.
Conditions deteriorated drastically during the night, with increasingly high waves and bad weather, which briefly hampered the rescue operation.
SAR Operations Suspended Due to High Waves
Masyhud emphasised that Ditjen Hubla is continuously coordinating intensively with all relevant elements to ensure the SAR operation runs effectively and optimally.
“Ditjen Hubla continues to coordinate with Basarnas Gorontalo, the Indonesian Navy, the Marine Police, SROP Ampana and relevant parties at the scene. The search operation had to be postponed on Friday (24/7) night due to high waves in Tomini Bay waters, for the safety of SAR personnel. Operations resumed on Saturday morning,” he explained.
Ditjen Hubla also expressed its sympathy to the passengers and the victims’ families, and reaffirmed its commitment to overseeing the handling of this incident until its completion.
“We are monitoring the SAR operation regularly and ensuring the search for the skipper is carried out optimally together with all elements involved,” Masyhud concluded.
In closing, Ditjen Hubla reminded all vessel operators and the maritime community to ensure the technical readiness of their fleets and to pay close attention to weather conditions before setting sail.