A massive fire broke out aboard an Indonesian oil tanker, FSO Federal II, on the afternoon of June 24 while it was undergoing maintenance at the ASL Shipyard in Batam, Riau Islands province.

The incident claimed the lives of four workers and injured five others, including four with serious burns. According to local officials, the fire started around 2:15 p.m. local time (3:15 p.m. Singapore time) during repair operations inside the vessel.

Early findings suggest the fire may have started from a gas or vapour leak that ignited while workers were cutting steel plates. Authorities are still investigating the exact cause.

All firefighting and rescue operations were handled by the internal emergency response team of the shipyard, as access to the site was restricted.

Kebakaran hebat terjadi di kapal tanker Federal II yang tengah docking di galangan kapal PT ASL Shipyard Indonesia, Tanjunguncang, Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Selasa (24/6) siang.

Reporter : Putra Gema Pamungkas
Editor : Pandu#IDNTimesSumuthttps://t.co/K5WkzjwOeF pic.twitter.com/hQXtuJ2kRc

— IDN Times Sumut (@IDNTimesSumut) June 25, 2025

Images and videos posted online showed thick black smoke rising from the forward section of the ship.

Fire crews worked for hours to control the blaze before it was completely extinguished. Batu Aji police chief Raden Bimo Dwi Lambang told local media that four survivors sustained serious burns, while one suffered minor injuries.

All five were taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Video Credits: Media Gemadika/YouTube

The FSO Federal II is a 95,759-deadweight-ton tanker built in Japan in 1990, measuring 761 feet (232 meters) in length. The vessel had recently completed a 10-year charter with China’s offshore oil company, CNOOC, operating in the Widuri oil field.

It was acquired by Indonesian firms PT Eastern Jason and Supraco Lines for conversion into an FSO (Floating Storage and Offloading) unit.

AIS tracking data shows the vessel had been moved to ASL Shipyard in Batam in May for maintenance and conversion work. It is owned by PT Eastern Jason and managed by International Andromeda Shipping, based in Monaco.

Kapal Tanker MT Federal II Terbakar, Sembilan Pekerja Jadi Korban#kapaltanker #federal #cpo #kebakaran #korban #batamisland #ptaslshipyard #kapolsekbatuaji #tanjunguncang #riau #beritaviral #timsar #hidupblonde #dimasanggara pic.twitter.com/LweHpayOmt

— smpantura (@smpantura) June 25, 2025

The vessel is classified by Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia, which is not affiliated with the International Association of Classification Societies. Its Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance is provided by global marine insurer, NorthStandard.

State-owned news agency Antara confirmed that the fire had been completely extinguished and no oil pollution was reported from the site.

A formal investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and review compliance with safety protocols at the shipyard.

References: Straits Times, AA

Marine Insight