A tragic boating accident in Bali, Indonesia on November 7th resulted in the deaths of three people. Hitting rough waters, a glass-bottomed boat carrying tourists and crew members tipped in the water. One Japanese tourist, 71 years old, and two locals were killed in the incident. It was the second recent maritime accident resulting in fatalities in Bali in recent weeks and highlights the need for safety, prevention, and awareness for tourist boat crews and passengers.
Three Die in Glass-Bottomed Boat Accident
The most recent accident occurred on Monday, November 7th aboard a tourist boat. The glass-bottomed boat headed out into the waters surrounding the island of Bali to give visitors and underwater glimpse at local marine life. Such a tourist activity is common in Bali, but on this day the weather proved deadly. Big waves knocked the boat around and eventually tipped it over.
Three people were thrown from the boat, two Indonesians and an elderly Japanese tourist. The waters were too rough to make a successful rescue and all three people drowned. Their bodies were recovered from the water later. The two Indonesians were the captain of the boat and his wife. Millions of tourists come to Bali ever year to enjoy the culture and the water. They do not expect to die on a routine tourist boating trip.
Poor Safety Record for Bali Boating
As a small island among thousands in the archipelago nation of Indonesia, Bali is a place that relies heavily on boats for transportation and tourism. Unfortunately, though the boating industry in Bali has a track record of accidents, injuries, and fatalities, both for local crew members and the tourists they serve.
Another incident that occurred in September, just a couple of months before the glass-bottomed boat accident, highlights this issue. A small ferry carried about 40 tourists and crew members from Bali to Lombok when the accident occurred. An explosion rocked the boat and led to the deaths of two European tourists. Twenty other people were injured.
The boating industry in Indonesia has a poor safety record because there are not many regulations governing how the industry operates. Safety regulations and those guiding how boats and ferries are maintained are needed to ensure that crew and tourists stay safe and do not lose their lives in these incidents.
Boating Safety and Legal Rights
Tourists in any part of the world who hope to enjoy maritime activities need to be aware of the risks and take steps to ensure they stay safe while on vacation. Crew members working on tourist vessels should also be aware of safety concerns and should take all steps to follow safety guidelines and to prevent the kinds of accidents that can hurt and kill tourists and workers alike.
If you were hurt, or you lost a loved one, during a tourist boating accident, you may have options to sue to seek damages. Owners and operators of ferries, tourist boats, chartered fishing vessels, and other kinds of maritime vessels have a responsibility to take all reasonable measures to ensure that passengers and crew stay safe. When they do not meet those responsibilities, they may be held legally accountable.