Indonesia’s state-owned ferry operator ASDP said all passengers and crew were evacuated after a fire broke out aboard KMP Batumandi near Merak Port on Tuesday, prompting operational adjustments
Indonesia’s state-owned ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry said on Tuesday that all passengers and crew aboard KMP Batumandi had been evacuated after a fire broke out on the vessel near Merak Port, with authorities continuing to manage the incident.
The fire was first detected at about 4:15 p.m. local time (0915 GMT) at the stern of the ferry, on an upper deck designated for small vehicles, as the vessel travelled from Bakauheni Port in Sumatra to Merak in Banten province, ASDP said.
The vessel was near Merak Besar Island and manoeuvring towards Pier VI at Merak Port when the incident occurred, the company said.
ASDP President Director Heru Widodo said the safety of passengers and crew remained the company’s primary concern and that assistance was being provided to those affected.
“We offer our deepest apologies for the fire incident that occurred aboard KMP Batumandi in Merak. We also apologize to our service users and all those affected by this event,” Heru said in a statement.
He said the company’s immediate priority was to ensure everyone on board was safe and received the necessary assistance and care.
Port personnel, Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), police and other relevant agencies took part in the evacuation and response, ASDP said.
Heru thanked the responding teams for their swift action and coordination, adding that the company would continue working with the authorities until the response was complete.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the relevant authorities, ASDP said, adding that it would cooperate with the investigation and provide further information based on verified findings.
The incident also prompted operational adjustments to the Merak-Bakauheni ferry service. ASDP said ferry operations had been redirected through the Express 2 Pier, and advised passengers to follow instructions from personnel at the port and monitor official updates.
The company said it was continuing to coordinate with relevant agencies to maintain ferry operations while prioritising passenger safety.
Passengers seeking information about the incident or ferry service conditions can contact ASDP’s call centre at 191, the company said.
Heru reiterated that safety and security remained central to the company’s ferry operations and that all measures taken in response to the incident would follow established procedures.
