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A significant fire broke out on the Indonesian oil tanker FSO Federal II on the afternoon of June 24 while it was undergoing maintenance at the ASL Shipyard in Batam, located in the Riau Islands province. Tragically, the incident resulted in the deaths of four workers and left five others injured, including four who suffered severe burns.
Local authorities reported that the fire ignited around 2:15 PM local time (3:15 PM Singapore time) during repair operations on the vessel. Initial investigations suggest that the blaze may have been sparked by a gas or vapor leak that caught fire while workers were cutting steel plates. The exact cause, however, is still under investigation.
The firefighting efforts and rescue operations were managed by the shipyard's internal emergency response team, as access to the site was limited.
Images and videos shared online depicted thick black smoke billowing from the front part of the ship. Fire crews worked tirelessly for hours to control the flames until they were fully extinguished. Batu Aji police chief Raden Bimo Dwi Lambang informed local media that four survivors suffered serious burns, while one had minor injuries. All five were promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The FSO Federal II is a 95,759 deadweight ton tanker that was constructed in Japan in 1990, measuring 761 feet (232 meters) in length. It had recently completed a 10- to 12-month charter with China's offshore oil company CNOOC, operating in the Widuri oil field. The vessel was purchased by Indonesian companies PT Eastern Jason and Supraco Lines for conversion into a Floating Storage and Offloading unit.
AIS tracking data indicates that the vessel was moved to ASL Shipyard in Batam in May for repairs and conversion work. It is owned by PT Eastern Jason and managed by International Andromeda Shipping, which is based in Monaco.
The tanker is classified by Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia, not affiliated with the International Association of Classification Societies, and its Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance is provided by the global marine insurer NorthStandard. State-owned news agency Antara confirmed that the fire was completely extinguished, with no reports of oil pollution from the site.
A formal investigation is currently underway to establish the exact cause of the fire and to assess compliance with safety protocols at the shipyard.
