KMP Batumandi Fire Tests Merak’s Emergency Chain as Wreck Management Shapes Safer Crossings

Cilegon, The Banten Post – The KMP Batumandi fire shows that passenger safety on the Merak-Bakauheni route depends on fast ship-to-ship evacuation, accurate manifests and disciplined control of a hazardous wreck after the flames are out.

How did the evacuation work?

The ferry was approaching Merak Port from Bakauheni on Tuesday, Oct. 20, when sparks and fire were reported at about 4:15 p.m. near Merak Besar Island. The initial report to the Merak Vessel Traffic Service indicated the fire may have started in the engine room, but authorities have not confirmed the cause.

At 4:56 p.m., KMP Royce 1 reported that passengers and crew from Batumandi had been transferred aboard, according to Yogie Nugraha, head of the Class I Harbormaster and Port Authority Office of Banten, in a written statement. Basarnas Banten said the evacuation used patrol vessels, fishing boats, rubber boats and its rigid inflatable boat. The Ministry of Transportation later said 420 passengers were evacuated.

That sequence matters. Batumandi was close enough to Merak for nearby vessels to assist, reducing the time people spent exposed to smoke and fire. It also shows why passengers should follow crew directions, locate life jackets early and avoid jumping into the water unless instructed or forced by an immediate threat. The ministry said it was following up on the handling of the incident and passengers’ rights.

What remains unresolved?

Authorities and ASDP Indonesia Ferry have not announced a final cause. ASDP President Director Heru Widodo said the company was cooperating with the authorities’ investigation and would provide updates after on-site verification. The early engine-room account should therefore be treated as preliminary, not as a finding.

Passenger totals in early reports were not uniform. The ministry’s later figure of 420 is the clearest official count currently available; readers should verify any different number against the final manifest and the ministry’s updates. Kompas reported that 11 people required hospital treatment for injuries or trauma, while early rescue reporting said there were no reported deaths. Those figures should also be checked against a final medical and passenger account.

Will Merak crossings continue normally?

Immediately after the fire, ferry movements were redirected through the Express 2 Pier while personnel managed the incident. ASDP later installed marker buoys around the sunken vessel and prepared oil booms and salvage work to reduce collision and pollution risks. KMP Portlink III was sent to strengthen the route after inspection and operational preparation.

For future crossings, the practical test is not simply whether ships return to service. Passengers should verify the operating pier, sailing status and official safety notices with ASDP, including through its 191 contact center. Authorities should publish the final fire cause, the manifest reconciliation, the condition of affected port waters and the inspection basis for replacement vessels. Those details will show whether the response has moved from emergency rescue to durable safety improvement.