LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — Authorities have identified human error, compounded by heavy rainfall, as the cause of the sinking of the pinisi vessel Dewi Anjani at Pink Pier in Labuan Bajo on Monday morning, December 29, 2025.
The wooden tourist vessel did not sink while sailing or battling rough seas. Instead, it went down quietly while moored, tied securely at the dock, according to Indonesia’s Port Authority.
“Kru tertidur lupa pompa got, air masuk karena hujan deras,” said Stephanus Risdiyanto, head of the Class III Labuan Bajo Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP), confirming that the crew had fallen asleep and failed to operate the bilge pump as rainwater accumulated inside the hull.
The vessel was anchored alongside Pink Pier and was not affected by waves or swell, Risdiyanto emphasized. Prolonged heavy rainfall overnight allowed water to seep into the boat unchecked, eventually overwhelming its buoyancy.
All crew members were reported safe, and no injuries were recorded.
Authorities and the vessel’s owner are now working to refloat the pinisi, a process that was ongoing as of Monday afternoon.
The incident adds clarity to an earlier report by Hey Bali News on growing maritime safety concerns in Labuan Bajo, following multiple vessel incidents in the region. That report can be read here: https://heybali.info/news/another-tourist-boat-sinks-in-labuan-bajo-as-safety-concerns-mount/
While the sinking of Dewi Anjani did not involve passengers or severe weather at sea, maritime officials say it underscores a recurring vulnerability in Indonesia’s tourism fleet: basic onboard vigilance during extreme weather conditions.
As monsoon rains intensify across eastern Indonesia, authorities are urging vessel operators to maintain continuous watchkeeping, even while docked. “A ship can be lost without ever leaving the harbor,” one port official noted privately.
The incident serves as a quiet but pointed reminder that in Labuan Bajo’s rapidly expanding tourism industry, safety failures do not always arrive with crashing waves. Sometimes, they come in silence, overnight, while everyone is asleep.
