Strong Currents Cause Collision Between Two Tour Boats in Padar Strait

Two tourist boats were involved in an accident in the waters of the Padar Strait, Komodo National Park, on Tuesday (15/9) at approximately 08:30 WITA. The incident was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media.

There were no fatalities or injuries reported in the incident.

The vessels involved included KM AIMAR, an Indonesian-flagged tourist passenger ship with a tonnage of 13cap 139 GT, carrying 17 passengers and 9 crew members. As the vessel was moving towards Long Beach entering the Small Padar Strait, strong currents pushed another vessel, KM Budi Utama, towards KM AIMAR.

The captain of KM AIMAR immediately reduced speed and attempted to reverse the ship, but the force of the current could not be resisted, resulting in the collision. As a result of the incident, the bow of KM AIMAR became detached and the front section of the ship sustained minor damage. However, the vessel remained stable and seaworthy. There was no marine pollution or significant material loss, and all passengers and crew were safe and uninjured.

The Head of the Class III KSOP Labuan Bajo, Stefanus Risdiyanto, confirmed the incident and cited extreme currents as the primary cause. “It is true that a collision occurred in the Padar Strait this morning. The captain attempted to anticipate the situation, but the current was too strong, making the impact unavoidable. All passengers and crew are safe,” Stefanus stated when confirmed on Wednesday (16/9).

“We remind all captains to monitor weather and current forecasts before navigating. The Padar Strait is known for having dangerous currents. If conditions are not favourable, it is mandatory to delay travel for the sake of safety,” he emphasised.

This incident occurred shortly after KSOP Labuan Bajo issued a temporary sailing ban to Komodo Island and Padar Island from 13-15 September 2026, following BMKG warnings regarding waves up to 1.9 metres and strong winds. This decision was outlined in the Notice to Mariners Number 03/MP-IX/2026, dated 12 September 2026.

“We do not take safety lightly. If there are no extreme weather warnings, conditions are deemed safe. Conversely, as soon as there are signs of danger, we act decisively before any unwanted incidents occur,” said Stefanus.

KSOP has now coordinated with relevant shipping agents to follow up with inspections regarding vessel seaworthiness and compliance with maritime safety procedures.