Three Flores SAR emergencies in 2023 highlight boat and surf safety risks

Labuan Bajo — Three separate maritime emergencies in Flores in 2023 highlight different safety pressures on local fishers, shoreline visitors and small passenger vessels: engine failure at sea, high surf on exposed coastal rocks and the risks of a breakdown on a busy passenger route. The incidents occurred in Sikka and Ende, outside the Komodo area, but offer practical lessons for anyone travelling or working on the water in eastern Indonesia.

The cases were reported by regional outlets quoting the Maumere Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas Maumere) and its Ende unit. Together, they show how fast everyday activities can turn into emergencies and how dependent outcomes are on basic preparation, weather awareness and clear contingency plans.

Engine failure turns a short trip into a search

On the night of Tuesday, 4 April 2023, two fishermen — a father and son — lost contact while fishing in the waters off Wairhubing, Sikka. Local coverage, citing Basarnas Maumere, reported that their boat was a new assistance vessel supplied via the Ministry of Social Affairs and that its engine failed late that evening.

Search and rescue teams found both men alive the next day in waters near Wairhubing, around 400 metres from the location where the engine was reported to have stopped. The pair were described as weak but remained aboard their vessel as they tried to repair the engine while waiting for help.

According to the reports, a fishing boat began towing the disabled vessel at about 13:30 WITA. By around 13:55 WITA, the two fishers and their small boat had reached Wuring harbour safely, escorted by a rigid inflatable boat from the Maumere SAR Office.

Safety specialists often emphasise similar priorities in any propulsion failure: stay in contact with shore or other boats where possible, remain with the vessel when conditions allow, maximise visibility to rescuers and organise a controlled tow rather than attempting to continue under uncertain power. In this case, available reporting focuses on the rescue and does not specify what equipment the fishermen carried, such as life jackets, radios or mobile phones.

Surf risk before a boat ever leaves shore

Only days later, on Sunday, 9 April 2023, a shoreline fishing trip in Ende turned into a search operation. Basarnas Maumere’s Ende unit reported that 12-year-old Sadikin was fishing with two friends on rocks at Pantai Batu Cincin in Numba village, Nangapanda district.

At about 11:00 WITA, waves reported at roughly 1.5 to 2.5 metres swept the boy from his position on the rocks and carried him toward open water. He had no boat beneath him, limited escape routes and little protection from the surf.

A five-person team from the Ende SAR standby unit, supported by other SAR elements, began searching with a rubber boat and by sweeping the shoreline. Initial reports said the first day of operations ended at around 18:30 WITA without locating the boy and that the search would resume the following day.

Follow-up regional coverage, again citing Basarnas, later reported that Sadikin was found dead by the combined SAR team. The case underscores that, for people fishing from rocks, risk is driven not only by equipment but also by wave height, surge and the stability and access conditions of the platform itself.

For families, guides and coastal operators, that means treating surf conditions and the nature of shoreline access as part of any go-or-no-go decision, especially for children, as rescue options can be limited once someone is swept off exposed rocks into breaking waves.

Passenger boats and the need for a breakdown plan

On Wednesday, 6 September 2023, the small passenger vessel KM Pemana Raya departed Pulau Pemana for Maumere’s L Say harbour with around 30 passengers on board, according to regional news reports quoting Basarnas Maumere.

At approximately 14:00 WITA, the vessel suffered engine failure off Pulau Besar, about 9 nautical miles from Wuring harbour. Basarnas deployed the rescue vessel KN SAR Puntadewa to reach the area and assist.

Early reports noted uncertainty over the fate of the passengers. Subsequent local coverage from another outlet, again citing Basarnas officials, stated that KM Pemana Raya was later successfully towed by a passing oil ship and that all 30 passengers were brought to port safely, allowing the SAR operation to be closed.

For passengers, the incident highlights the importance of understanding how an operator plans for a mechanical failure: whether the vessel carries adequate flotation equipment, how emergency instructions are communicated and what communications links exist between crew and shore.

For operators, the case illustrates why a documented departure check should cover propulsion and fuel, communications and navigation equipment, passenger counts and prevailing weather and sea conditions. The Flores incidents collectively show that, while SAR teams can and do respond quickly, basic preparation and situational judgement at sea and along the shore remain critical to preventing routine trips from becoming emergencies.

Sources

• Detik Bali/Nusra – Kapal Bantuan Mensos Mati Mesin di Tengah Laut
• Florespedia.id