Passenger Ship Fire Again, Government Urged to Tighten Supervision
A member of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Ade Ginanjar, is urging the government to improve the national shipping oversight and safety system.
Ade criticised the successive fires on passenger ships that have resulted in fatalities. This follows the fire on KMP Putri Yasmin in the waters of the Lombok Strait on Wednesday (12/8/2026).
The ship, serving the Padangbai, Bali–Lembar, Lombok route, caught fire while en route.
Based on the latest developments, the SAR team successfully evacuated 172 people safely, while one passenger was reported dead.
This incident occurred only about 10 days after the fire on KM Mutiara Sentosa II on 2 August 2026, which claimed five lives.
“This incident must serve as a serious alarm for the government,” Ade said in a statement on Thursday (13/8/2026).
A series of ship fires occurring in close succession must no longer be viewed as isolated incidents.
Ade said the government must evaluate the recurring problems in the oversight system.
This concerns the seaworthiness of ships, technical inspections, engine and electrical maintenance, readiness of safety equipment, and operator compliance with safety procedures.
“We must not again be busy only after a ship catches fire. What the government must answer is why such incidents keep recurring and whether the oversight system in place so far is truly effective,” Ade said.
Ade believes passenger safety must be the primary measure in the entire process of organising sea transport.
Ade urged the government not to stop at administrative checks or ship seaworthiness documents.
He said inspections must ensure that the ship’s condition is truly safe when operating, including the electrical and engine systems, fire extinguishers, lifeboats and life jackets, evacuation routes, carrying capacity, and the crew’s readiness to face emergency conditions.
The legislator from the Golkar Party believes that if a ship has been declared seaworthy but then catches fire en route, the government must re-verify its inspection standards.
Ade questioned whether the inspection standards applied are sufficiently strict and capable of detecting potential risks early.
“The government stated that KMP Putri Yasmin had been declared seaworthy before departure,” Ade said.
In addition, Ade highlighted the issue of passenger manifest accuracy in the KMP Putri Yasmin incident.
According to Ade, the manifest issue is not merely an administrative matter because it is directly related to safety and search and rescue operations when an accident occurs.
“Passenger data must be accurate from the moment the ship leaves the port,” he said.
He reminded that in an emergency, officers must know exactly how many people are on board, who must be evacuated, and whether all passengers have been accounted for.