Fire on Federal II in Indonesia Claims 10 Lives, 18 Injured

A tragic fire aboard the Federal II has left 10 people dead and at least 18 others injured while the vessel was undergoing repairs and conversion work at a shipyard in Indonesia.

The blaze reportedly began around 4:00 a.m. local time on October 15, while the ship was drydocked at the PT ASL Shipyard in Batam. According to police reports, the fire spread rapidly across the vessel’s hull as it sat in drydock.

Emergency crews, including firefighters and medical teams, arrived swiftly, managing to extinguish the flames within about an hour. Workers affected by the fire were transported to nearby hospitals, where those injured are being treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

Authorities confirmed that the Federal II was not carrying fuel at the time of the incident, as the ship had been fully emptied before repair operations began.

This marks the second fire aboard the same vessel this year. A previous incident on June 24 claimed the lives of four workers during earlier repair work.

The shipyard has yet to issue an official statement, while investigators have launched a formal inquiry into the cause. Police indicated that their focus will be on potential safety lapses and whether welding sparks may have ignited residual gases or fumes remaining onboard.

Authorities continue to assess the damage and are working to ensure that safety standards at the facility are thoroughly reviewed to prevent further tragedies.