Multiple vessels respond after ferry catches fire off Merak, Indonesia
An Indonesian Ro-Pax ferry caught fire off Merak Port, Indonesia, after departing from Bakauheni Port. All passengers and crew were successfully evacuated with no reported deaths, though some suffered injuries and received medical treatment.
Why it matters
Maritime safety incidents on major regional ferry routes highlight the ongoing importance of rapid emergency response and vessel safety enforcement.
A Ro-Pax ferry operated by Indonesian state-owned entity ASDP caught fire while approaching Merak Port in Indonesia's Banten province in the afternoon (local time) of Tuesday, October 20.The ferry Batumandi was completing a crossing of the Sunda Strait from Bakauheni Port in Lampung.The operator said the ferry left Bakauheni at 14:52. The fire was reported at around 16:15 while the vessel was in Merak's approach channel.The initial report to Merak vessel traffic service (VTS) gave the engine room as the location of the fire. Separately, the operator said shore personnel saw sparks at the stern, on the upper deck used to carry small vehicles, as the ferry approached Dermaga VI near Pulau Merak Besar..All passengers and crew were safely evacuated.A passenger identified as Heri said he noticed heavy smoke coming up from the vehicle-carrying lower deck.
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