KMP Bontang Ekspress II Catches Fire While Docked in Banyuwangi Waters
The passenger motor vessel KMP Bontang Ekspress II caught fire while it was off duty and docked in the waters off Ketapang, Banyuwangi, on Friday (21/8).
The head of the Banyuwangi Class B Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), I Made Oka Astawa, explained that the incident occurred at around 1.30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time.
The ship’s captain, Denny Alexsander (50), initially spotted flames burning the nursing room on the second floor, or the bridge section of the vessel. The fire is suspected to have originated from an electrical short circuit near the rear bridge, close to the nursing room. Denny immediately instructed the crew to extinguish the fire using light fire extinguishers.
Upon seeing the smoke and flames, crew members from other vessels moored alongside KMP Bontang Ekspress II also assisted in the firefighting effort using water hoses. In addition, several other ships that were docked or off duty in the vicinity promptly manoeuvred backwards to move away, as a precautionary measure to prevent the fire from spreading to other vessels.
The fire report was received by the Banyuwangi SAR Office. At around 2.20 p.m., a rescue team was dispatched using a Rigid Inflatable Boat to the location to monitor the situation and coordinate with relevant parties.
“There were no casualties. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in the nursing room on the ship’s bridge and was successfully brought under control by the ship’s crew,” said Oka.
Oka stressed that there were no fatalities or injuries in the incident. However, material losses were confirmed, namely the burning of the nursing room at the rear bridge.
“The ship is now in a safe condition and on standby for docking,” he said.
In handling the incident, Basarnas Banyuwangi coordinated with a number of parties, including the Banyuwangi Naval Base, the Banyuwangi Police water and air unit, the Tanjung Wangi harbourmaster’s office, the port police, ASDP Ketapang, and the crew of KMP Bontang Ekspress II itself to ensure shipping safety following the incident.