What safety equipment should be on board a luxury phinisi from Labuan Bajo?

By Luxury Phinisi Labuan Bajo Editorial Desk

A luxury phinisi from Labuan Bajo should carry life jackets and liferafts adequate for its capacity, working navigation equipment and fire extinguishers in passenger rooms, galley and engine room, according to harbourmaster guidance reported by Detik. That guidance also requires a safety demonstration before sailing. A high rate proves none of this, so check it yourself when you board.

What does the Labuan Bajo harbourmaster require on board?

The Labuan Bajo harbourmaster's office, known as KSOP, issued safety guidance for tourist boats on 14 October 2024. Detik's report says it applies to speedboats, pinisi and other wooden vessels, so a boat's marketing label does not take it outside the rules. The table gives each requirement as reported, beside what a passenger can do about it.

The guidance tells you what should be present. It does not tell you that any particular boat complied on a particular morning, and that gap is the reason for the rest of this page. Two adjacent rules are covered elsewhere: the limits on moving after dark are in our guide to night sailing rules, and the forecast side is in how weather changes a trip.

What can a boat publish, and why does it help you?

A boat can state its safety kit in plain numbers, and some do. Tiare publishes 40 life jackets, 2 life rafts for 45 people, a fire detector system and fire ball extinguishers. That is one vessel, and we cite it for the format, not as a benchmark for what your boat should carry.

A published list gives you something to hold up on the day. If your operator has no such page, ask for the same details by message before you pay: how many life jackets, how many rafts and for how many people, what fire detection is fitted and where the extinguishers are.

Some operators go further and publish a third-party standard. Lamima's safety page names RINA as its certifier and mentions yearly surveys. Treat any such statement as something to follow up, and see our note on which documents to ask for before relying on a certificate.

What can you check yourself when you board?

Four things, by one operator's account. The Komodo operator guide we cite on this topic tells passengers to count the life jackets, check on the VHF radio and GPS, expect a briefing, and treat extra decks on an older hull with suspicion. Turned into a routine for your first minutes aboard, that looks like this:

1. Before unpacking, find the life jacket meant for you and try it on. Do the same for any child in your party.
2. Count the jackets you can see, and ask where the rest are stored if the number looks short.
3. Find the liferafts and ask how many people they are rated for.
4. Walk from your cabin to the open deck and note any locked door or steep ladder on the way.
5. Look for the extinguisher nearest your cabin.
6. Ask whether the VHF radio and GPS are working, and who else on board can use them.
7. Look up at the decks above the original hull. If a top deck looks added on, ask when it was built and whether the paperwork reflects it.

If something is missing, raise it with the captain or cruise lead before departure, while there is still time to fix it. What happens to your money if you then decide not to sail depends on your contract, so read the deposit and cancellation terms before the day comes.

What have recent incidents shown?

Three boats in under ten months: one sinking with four deaths, one sinking with one person not found at the time of the report, and one grounding. The reports below are given as published, without any blame beyond what they state.

Two wider statements give context. The KSOP head told Detik that a pinisi carries a higher risk of sinking than a fishing boat of the same dimensions. Wikipedia warns that the currents off Komodo's east coast, on the way to Labuan Bajo, can turn extremely dangerous when guides lack experience.

The reports do not sort these boats by price or class. They therefore cannot tell you that a higher rate would have changed the outcome, and they cannot tell you it would not. We draw no conclusion about cause, because the sources we cite do not give one we could repeat as settled.

Does a sailing clearance mean the boat was inspected?

No. Speaking to Detik, the same KSOP head called the clearance, or SPB, a matter of administration, with no duty on officers to go aboard. An inspection comes into play when a boat is known or reported to be in poor condition. A boat that left port with clearance has therefore met a paperwork test on that day, which is a narrower thing than having been looked over that morning.

Hearing "we have clearance" does not replace your own look around. The routine above is still yours to do, and the paper trail behind the clearance is explained in the documents guide linked earlier.

Does a luxury label prove a boat is safe?

No. "Luxury" is a seller's word, and sellers do not even share a scale: Komodo Trips works with tiers it calls Superior, Deluxe and Luxury, while the operator guide cited above has bands of its own. A rate pays for cabins, crew, food and water toys. It does not show you the life jacket count on your deck.

A higher price may come with better kit and stronger procedures, and a well-run boat will usually be glad to show them. The price cannot demonstrate that for you. Ask the same questions of a flagship that you would ask of a smaller boat. Our guide to choosing a provider shows how to put those questions before you commit, and our own desk should expect the same scrutiny if a request through us leads to an offer. The luxury phinisi overview on our home page puts these papers beside rates, inclusions and contract terms.

What are the quick safety answers?

Does the KSOP guidance apply to phinisi?

Yes. Detik reports that the October 2024 guidance covers speedboats, pinisi and other wooden vessels used as tourist boats in Labuan Bajo.

Should I expect a safety briefing before departure?

Yes. The reported guidance requires a safety demonstration before sailing, and one operator guide also tells passengers to expect a briefing. Ask for it if nobody offers one.

Can I count the life jackets myself?

Yes, and one operator guide tells you to. Compare the number with everyone aboard, crew as well as guests.

Does a safety list on a website mean the kit is aboard today?

No. A published list states what the operator says the boat carries. Use it as a checklist on the day, and look for the items in person.

Should I worry about added decks?

It is worth asking. One operator guide singles out decks added to older hulls as a reason for caution. Find out when the deck went on and whether the boat's papers reflect it.

Which sources support this page?

• Detik: KSOP safety guidance for tourist boats, October 2024
• Detik: why KSOP does not inspect boats before clearance, February 2026
• Tiare: diving and safety equipment
• Lamima: safety standard
• Komodo Resort: yacht charter guide
• Kompas: KM Feronia report
• Kompas: KM Yukai report
• Wikipedia: Komodo National Park
• Komodo Trips: terms and conditions

How do I reach the desk?

If you have a safety question about a boat you are considering, write to WhatsApp 6281139414563 or bd@juaraholding.com and name the boat and your dates. In an emergency at sea, speak to the captain and the local authorities first, because this desk is not a rescue or reporting service.