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





