An explosion fire on board the FSO Federal II, which is docked at ASL Shipyard in the Indonesian port city of Batam, has cost the lives of at least 10 shipyard workers and injured another 21 people. This is the second time the ship has been hit by a deadly fire at the shipyard.
The explosion occurred at four o’clock in the morning local time, while welding work was being carried out in one of the ship’s tanks. The explosion triggered a fire that developed thick, black smoke from the ship.
It has only been four months since the same ship was hit by another explosion at the shipyard, which at that time cost the lives of 4 shipyard workers.
The Indonesian authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion, but local media report that the explosion is probably due to leaking gas that had built up in one of the ship’s tanks and was ignited by a welding flame.
Federal II is owned by PT Eastern Jason and operated by International Andromeda Shipping in Monaco.
-mauh
