Tourist boats KM AIMAR and Budi Utama collide in Padar Strait

Labuan Bajo — Two wooden tourist vessels, KM AIMAR and KM Budi Utama, were involved in a collision in the Padar Strait area of Komodo National Park on the morning of Tuesday, 15 September 2026, while sailing toward Long Beach off Komodo Island, according to local port authorities and media reports.

Both boats were carrying domestic and international visitors in a popular sailing corridor between Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park.

Officials reported no deaths or injuries among passengers or crew on either vessel.

KM AIMAR, an Indonesian-flagged tourist boat of about 139 gross tons, was carrying 17 passengers and nine crew members at the time of the incident.

The passenger and crew count for KM Budi Utama has not been made public.

Sequence of the collision

According to the Labuan Bajo Harbourmaster and Port Authority (KSOP) as quoted by several outlets, KM AIMAR was underway toward Long Beach when it entered the narrow Padar Kecil section of the strait.

Strong currents in the strait reportedly pushed KM Budi Utama toward KM AIMAR.

The master of KM AIMAR reduced speed and attempted to reverse to avoid contact, but the current was described as too strong to counter.

The two vessels subsequently made contact in what KSOP Labuan Bajo chief Stefanus Risdiyanto characterised as a minor collision.

Video of the incident circulating on social media shows one vessel striking the forward section of another, causing the struck vessel to rock but not capsize.

Damage and safety status

KSOP and media reports describe the damage to KM AIMAR as light.

According to statements attributed to Risdiyanto, part of AIMAR’s bow separated and the wooden tip at the front of the vessel was damaged, but the hull remained intact.

The vessel was reported to be stable and considered fit to continue operating, with the collision not affecting its stability or overall seaworthiness.

Authorities said there was no marine pollution and no significant material loss resulting from the incident.

Details on any damage to KM Budi Utama have not been disclosed.

Incident during weather-related sailing limits

The collision occurred during a period of temporary sailing restrictions imposed by KSOP Labuan Bajo on tourism routes toward Pulau Komodo and Pulau Padar because of forecasts of strong winds and elevated waves in Komodo National Park.

KSOP announced that tourist voyages to Komodo and Padar would be halted from 13 to 15 September 2026, following meteorological guidance indicating wave heights up to around 1.9 metres and strong winds in the area.

The restrictions were set out in a Notice to Mariners (NtM) referenced by local media as No. 03/MP-IX/2026, dated 12 September 2026.

During the closure period, KSOP continued to allow limited sailings to Rinca Island under specific conditions and with an emphasis on passenger safety.

Risdiyanto has publicly linked the collision to extreme currents in the strait and said KSOP coordinated with the vessels’ shipping agents to carry out inspections of seaworthiness and compliance with maritime safety procedures following the incident.

As of mid-September 2026, local reports had not published any final investigation findings or detailed information on regulatory follow-up such as sanctions or operational restrictions.

Reported incident data

• Date and time: Tuesday, 15 September 2026, at about 8:30 a.m. Central Indonesia Time (WITA)
• Location: Padar Strait, near Padar Kecil, within Komodo National Park waters off Labuan Bajo, Manggarai Barat, East Nusa Tenggara
• Vessels: KM AIMAR and KM Budi Utama, both operating as tourist boats
• KM AIMAR load: 17 passengers and nine crew members
• Reported outcome: No deaths or injuries; minor bow damage to KM AIMAR; no reported marine pollution

Sources

• Akurat Banten
• Detik Bali / Nusra
• CNN Indonesia