Overview

• The vessel departed Ketapang on Java late Wednesday for Gilimanuk in Bali and foundered about 30 minutes into the 50 km crossing.
• The ferry operator reported engine trouble shortly before the ship went down, prompting probes into mechanical failures.
• Search-and-rescue teams have saved 29 people and confirmed four fatalities while 32 passengers remain unaccounted for.
• Two-meter waves, strong winds and currents have hampered recovery efforts in the Bali Strait.
• Indonesia’s inter-island ferries often operate with lax enforcement of passenger limits and maintenance standards, heightening safety concerns.