A tragic incident occurred in the Riau Islands province of Indonesia early Wednesday morning, resulting in the death of at least ten people and injuries to 21 others. The disaster unfolded around 4:00 AM local time when an oil tanker, the Federal II, caught fire while undergoing repairs at the ASL Shipyard in Sekupang, located approximately 20 kilometers from Singapore.
The Federal II, a 1990-built aframax tanker, was functioning as a floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit at the time of the blaze. According to local police, all fatalities were associated with the shipyard’s repair crew. Those injured were promptly transported to various hospitals across Batam for medical attention.
Initial reports suggest that the fire might have been triggered by an explosion due to gas accumulation in one of the vessel’s tanks, potentially ignited by welding equipment being used. However, officials are still investigating the precise cause of the incident to determine if any negligence or safety oversights contributed to this catastrophic event.
Videos circulating on social media depicted thick black smoke erupting from the bow of the ship, indicating the severity of the blaze. Fortunately, firefighters were able to bring the situation under control later in the day, and no damage was reported to adjacent vessels or port infrastructure.
Shipping records reveal that the Indonesian-flagged Federal II is owned by PT Eastern Jason and managed by the Monaco-based International Andromeda Shipping. Notably, this vessel had previously experienced a fire at the same shipyard in late June, which resulted in the deaths of four workers and injuries to nine others. In light of the recurrence of such incidents, authorities are scrutinizing whether safety protocols were adequately followed during operations at the shipyard.
As the investigation continues, the tragedy underscores the potential hazards associated with maritime repair work and the importance of maintaining stringent safety measures in shipyards to protect workers and prevent further incidents.
