DENPASAR, Bali — Just hours after Hey Bali warned readers in its report, “Bad Weather in Bali: Video Pinisi Goes Down in Serangan, a Stark Warning as Extreme Weather Batters the Island,” the island’s escalating weather crisis unfolded in real time.
On Saturday morning, the severe weather system disrupting air and sea travel across eastern Indonesia struck closer to home, as a substantial pinisi charter vessel, the Sharandy of The Seas, sank at its mooring in Serangan Harbor. Dramatic video of the incident shows the ship listing violently before disappearing beneath the water, offering a stark and immediate illustration of the storm’s force. Remarkably, all 13 crew members and technicians on board escaped without injury.
The sinking occurred around 10:30 AM local time on December 27, 2025. According to police and harbor authorities, the vessel was anchored and undergoing repairs when a sudden, powerful squall hit. Winds estimated at 40-45 km/h, coupled with torrential rain, caused the ship to list sharply to port.
“The impact of the bad weather caused the ship to tilt to the left. The crew immediately called for all workers to evacuate,” said Bali Police spokesperson, Kombes Pol Ariasandy.
The situation deteriorated rapidly. As seen in circulating footage, the vessel’s tilt increased until it was fully swamped, sinking in the harbor at coordinates 8°43’13” S, 115°14’27” E. The twelve individuals on board—four crew members and eight technicians—abandoned ship, leaping into the water before being rescued by local responders using a small tender boat and brought ashore at Serangan Beach.
“This incident serves as an extremely direct and visible consequence of the extreme weather warnings currently in effect,” stated a maritime safety analyst familiar with the region. “When authorities issue alerts for high winds and heavy rain, this is precisely the type of sudden, dangerous scenario they are warning about.”
Connecting the Dots: A Wider Weather Crisis
This event is not isolated. It occurs amidst a cascade of weather-related disruptions:
- Active Severe Weather Advisories: As reported, the BMKG has warned of high winds and heavy rains across Bali from December 27-29.
- Regional Maritime Tragedy: The sinking follows the devastating loss of another pinisi, the Putri Sakinah, in Komodo National Park, which claimed four lives and has been linked to dangerous swells from a distant cyclone.
- Air Travel Disruption: Ngurah Rai International Airport experienced significant delays and diversions earlier the same day due to the same storm system.
Safety Implications for Bali’s Maritime Community
While the Sharandy of The Seas was in port, the incident carries urgent lessons for all vessel operators and waterfront businesses in Bali:
- Heed All Warnings Immediately: The rapid onset of the squall underscores why official weather advisories must trigger immediate precautionary actions, even for vessels in seemingly sheltered locations.
- Review Mooring and Anchoring Protocols: Extreme winds can place extraordinary stress on mooring lines and ground tackle. Ensuring these systems are robust is critical during storm alerts.
- Prepare for Rapid Evacuation: The crew’s successful escape highlights the importance of clear emergency drills and immediate action when a vessel’s stability is compromised.
Authorities, including the Serangan Harbor Master and police, are now coordinating a salvage operation to raise the sunken vessel. A primary concern is preventing environmental damage from potential fuel spills. The ship’s owner, PT Sharandy Makmur Utama, is assessing the total loss.
For Bali’s residents and visitors, the video of the sinking is a sobering reminder. The island’s postcard-perfect weather can transform with startling speed during the rainy season. This visual evidence reinforces the critical need to treat official severe weather warnings with the utmost seriousness, altering plans and securing property to ensure personal safety remains the unwavering priority.
Just hours after warnings were issued, a pinisi charter vessel sank at Serangan Harbor as extreme weather battered Bali. All 13 crew members survived.https://t.co/al5ppKTwYz#BaliWeather#BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/nTjpnwGFmh
— Hey Bali (@Heybaliinfo) December 27, 2025
Video Source: @jurnalisrakyat
