Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August

Ubud, Indonesia
Level Contributor
2,476 posts
43 reviews
53 helpful votes
Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

I thought I'd start a new thread on this as the most relevant existing one mentions different companies.

I've travelled with all of the fast boat companies from Padang Bai to Gili T, and have had a variety of experiences....rough rides, being drenched by waves coming right over the boat, overloading, and seeing people rescued from sitting on the top (a very silly idea when crossing a deep stretch of ocean on something that is bumping and screaming along at 800horsepower).

Although my last few rides were OK, I'd personally decided that in future I will take the slower Perama boat. The scream of the engines and the sound of the hulls slamming into wave after wave, was just not.. well, floating my boat.

So I was not too surprised when I read today that the Eka Jaya 1 sunk a few minutes outside Padang Bai last Saturday after the hull being holed by a wave. I was in Sanur that day, noticing the strong wind and dark skies to the east, and I actually thought to myself.. I wouldn't want to be on a fast boat in that...

Here's the news story.

http://www.balidiscovery.com/messages/message.asp?Id=6257

What is striking in it is that the port authorities did not even know the boat was in trouble until 2 other boats.. Wahana (a new locally owned company) and the Gili Gili, who just happened to be passing, brought the passengers back into port. Thank heavens it didn't happen further out into the Lombok strait.

A travel agent I sometimes buy tickets from in Ubud who no longer deals with Eka Jaya told me (even when he was) that he didn't trust that (foreign owned) company, due to the age of their boats.

I've often delayed my journey on fast boats when I've sensed the sea is rough or windy. But many tourists, locked into date-driven pre-booked schedules, would not have that luxury.

So I suppose that's the moral of me sharing this. Pay attention to the dangers of boat travel in Indonesia, it's real travel, not just postcard stuff.

Edited: 10 years ago
Eaton, Australia
Destination Expert
for Broome, Bunbury
Level Contributor
25,616 posts
60 reviews
85 helpful votes
1. Re: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

Thanks Newgabe for posting this story. For those of us who live here in Australia, we are so used to 'two blokes in a boat fishing', having a huge number of boats and aircraft go looking for them, if they get into trouble out to sea and send out a distress signal, flare etc.

Thankfully those on board this vessel, lived to tell the tale, but it's a sobering story and something we all should keep in mind when travelling on the open ocean In Bali.

bristol
Level Contributor
401 posts
116 reviews
88 helpful votes
2. Re: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

thats certainly a worry. we are due to go to gilli t next yr on blue water

we have been on a few trips in thailand where the boat was overloaded & in sufficient life jackets & in goa india a full boat went down not far from shore all drowned ,mind you most were indian & couldnt swim

i hope blue water has a better safety record

Ubud, Indonesia
Level Contributor
2,476 posts
43 reviews
53 helpful votes
3. Re: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

Blue Water is a different company entirely to Eka Jaya, and from all appearances, much better. As I said, even the bloke who's job it was to sell tickets didn't feel comfortable with them.

But leave yourself the option to not set out if it's clearly windy, choppy conditions- the fast boats charge straight ahead into the swell .. and you can feel like you're on a trampoline rather than a cruise! As for swimming in the Lombok strait ... better not to.

Portsmouth, UK
3 posts
4. Re: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

I couldn't agree more with your statement ' thanks heavens it happened before the Lombok Strait'.

I was travelling on this boat with my friend - we are still deeply in shock. Last year I travelled to Gili so I know how treachorous those seas are.

Both of us are UK citizens and paid prices comparable to the other reputable companies you mention. (US$150) The brochures itself advertises new boats.

Little did we know we were actually purchasing tickets for a fisherman's boat with 1500 horse power attached to it.

We are lucky to be alive - not least for the sheer coincedence of those passing boats.

The crew were more panicked than us in dealing with the emergency - and we had to get lifejackets from the two passing boats before abandoning ship and swimming over to them.

As if this wasn't bad enough, our luggage sank and before being recovered to us was looted by those supposedly there to rescue it.

I'm not naive to corruption but I suspect the journalist's report you quote is understated - the Police took him to one side and ushered him away - the "TOURIST' police refused to help - wonder why huh???

As passengers, we're not even sure that no one was missing and we are all angry that such a company can operate with such reckless regard for human life - watch this space...

kob
Melbourne
Level Contributor
221 posts
18 reviews
27 helpful votes
5. Re: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

thanks for this info newgabe (is it possible to fix typo in heading gili instead of glli so it come up in gili searches)

I recently used blue water express for the return trip to gili t. I was very nervous about it and researched a lot. I went with them as they said they were English owned and had all safety / boat details on website. It is still quite hairy as the boat bumps it's way across the sea and when you look outside the water seems higher than the boat. It seems to take forever (3hrs) but we got there, didn't get sea sick and my 12yr son LOVED it!

Was much more relaxed on the way back and it was actually a smoother ride no big bumps. Both trips had about 4 Balinese staff on the boat (no sign of anyone English anywhere) and about 10-16 passengers. Not overcrowded. Both boats felt solid and modern.

I want to go back to GIli T next year and think though will fly to Mataram and get short boat ride especially after this latest incident.

bristol
Level Contributor
401 posts
116 reviews
88 helpful votes
6. Re: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

ok blue water sounds good, you can not expect a mill pond. thats part of the fun as long as safety procedures in place

Tokyo, Japan
Level Contributor
4,724 posts
97 reviews
467 helpful votes
7. Re: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

Lombok Strait is open ocean, frequently rough and requires a properly licensed and experienced mariner to cross.

This is the second Gili boat sinking the past 2 years, I believe the last one sank just off Benoa Harbor and all pax and crew safe.

Clearly there is a safety problem and the boat crews are not qualified.

Ireland
Level Contributor
455 posts
12 reviews
5 helpful votes
8. Re: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

Kellynorgate, thank you for posting a first hand account of this..

What a very frightening experience.!

Hope you are slowly recovering from the shock.

I think that the dangers of the waters around Bali are not highlighted enough.

I would include in this, swimming in the ocean in Kuta/Legian/Seminyak/Canggu

It looks so dramatic and inviting, but there is a fierce and lethal undertow.

People drown here on a regular basis, both tourists and locals.

Ubud, Indonesia
Level Contributor
2,476 posts
43 reviews
53 helpful votes
9. Re: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

Thank you indeed Kellynorgate for sharing your story. I'd assumed your luggage had all been lost.. maybe it's even worse it was tampered with.

Australia
Level Contributor
25 posts
1 review
10. Re: Fast boat to GIli Trewangan sinks 21st August
Save

We are planning a trip to the Gili.s next year at the end of May and thought about using a speed boat service from Padang Bai.

Does anybody know what the sea conditions are like at that time of year?

May choose to fly to Lombok instead if it looks dodgy.

Cheers

Get answers to your questions about Bali
CA$CAD
United States
© 2021 TripAdvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.