Engine-room fire aboard KMP Batumandi sparks safety concerns for Indonesian ferries
The ferry KMP Batumandi caught fire near Merak Port on Oct 20, and all passengers and crew were evacuated without any fatalities.
A fire erupted in the engine compartment of the ferry KMP Batumandi at about 16:15 WIB as it approached Merak Port, Cilegon, Banten, on Oct 20. The ship had departed Bakauheni Port around 14:52 WIB. Rapid response by Merak Vessel Traffic Service, tugboats, the National Search and Rescue Agency, customs, Banten Police and the Regional Disaster Management Agency enabled the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew, who were transferred to KMP Royce 1 by 16:56 WIB.
No casualties have been reported, although the Ministry of Transportation has not disclosed the number of people on board. The fire follows six other maritime incidents this year, which experts link to an aging fleet and weakened regulatory oversight. Deddy Herlambang of the Institute for Transportation Studies urged a comprehensive safety audit and full implementation of KNKT recommendations, while Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stressed the need for better shipyard capacity and streamlined certification processes.
Why it matters
The event underscores persistent safety risks in Indonesia's aging ferry fleet and the urgency of stronger maritime oversight.
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