Crew certification
STCW is the international standard for seafarer training. Ask whether every crew member holds it, and who aboard is first-aid trained.
Questions Worth Asking
Komodo is remote water. This page is not a promise about any particular boat — it is the checklist that separates a well-run vessel from a cheap one.
A well-run Komodo vessel carries STCW-certified crew, life rafts beyond its passenger count, an EPIRB, satellite communications and current insurance. Ask to see it.
- Life-raft capacity should exceed maximum persons aboard, not match it.
- Mobile coverage disappears between islands — satellite comms are the backup.
- The nearest hospital is in Labuan Bajo, hours away from the northern park.
Six things to confirm in writing
A good operator answers these without hesitation. Hesitation is the answer.
Life-raft capacity
Should exceed the maximum number of people aboard — commonly specified at 150 percent. Ask for the figure, not a reassurance.
EPIRB and satellite comms
An emergency beacon plus VSAT or Inmarsat. Mobile signal is absent across most of the park, so this is the only link out.
Navigation
Chart plotters with AIS, so the captain sees other vessel traffic. Relevant in the busy channels around Padar and Rinca.
Maintenance schedule
Engines are commonly serviced around every 250 running hours and generators around every 100. Ask when it was last done.
Insurance
Passenger liability and P&I cover, current and named. This is the one people never ask about and most need.
How far help actually is
The nearest hospital is in Labuan Bajo. From the northern anchorages that is several hours by boat, and there is no road. Nothing about this makes Komodo dangerous — it makes preparation matter more than it would somewhere with a coastguard station on every headland. Ask what the evacuation plan is, because a vessel that has one will tell you immediately.
Travel insurance that explicitly covers marine evacuation is worth more here than the cover most policies bundle by default.
What should happen on day one
If none of this happens, that tells you something before you have left the marina.
- STCW
- International crew training standard
- 150%
- Life-raft capacity commonly specified
- 250 h
- Typical engine service interval
- EPIRB
- Emergency beacon, non-negotiable
This is not a dangerous place
Thousands of people charter in Komodo every season without incident. The park is sheltered, the legs are short, and the operators who have been here a decade are very good at it. The reason to ask these questions is not fear — it is that the gap between the best and the cheapest vessels in Labuan Bajo is wide, and the questions above are how you tell which one you are on.
Safety, answered
Is chartering in Komodo safe?
Generally yes. The park is sheltered, legs between anchorages are short, and established operators run it well. The variation between vessels is what to pay attention to.
What certification should the crew hold?
STCW is the international standard. Ask whether every crew member holds it and which of them are first-aid trained.
What happens in a medical emergency?
The nearest hospital is in Labuan Bajo, which is several hours from the northern park with no road. Ask the operator what their evacuation plan is.
Is there phone signal?
Not reliably. Coverage disappears between islands, which is why satellite communications and an EPIRB matter rather than being optional extras.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes, and check that it covers marine evacuation and charter cancellation specifically. Standard policies often exclude both.
Ask before you pay
Send the checklist above to any operator you are considering. How quickly it comes back is as informative as the answers.