Probe launched after fire at Indonesian shipyard takes five lives

An investigation has been launched after a fire at a shipyard in Indonesia took the lives of five workers and left one worker injured. 

ASL Marine Holdings, a Singapore-based integrated marine company with a focus on shipbuilding and repair, informed on Saturday, September 9 that an incident involving a fire had taken place at its shipyard in Batam, Indonesia on September 7, 2017.

Further according to the company’s statement, initial investigations confirm that the incident occurred on board a tanker that was being repaired at one of the drydocks. Initial investigations suggest that the fire started inside and was confined to the pump room.

ASL Marine said that five people died and one person was injured as a result of the incident. They were employees of ASL Marine’s subcontractor. Initial investigations suggest that there was no explosion.

“As a matter of priority, we will be working diligently together with our subcontractor to help the affected workers and their families and are rendering the necessary assistance to them,” ASL Marine said.

The work on the vessel is being suspended until the investigation is closed and the cause established. The company noted it was working with the authorities to establish the cause of the fire.

ASL Marine owns and operates five shipyards, in Singapore, Batam (Indonesia) and Guangdong (China), providing a range of shipbuilding, shiprepair and conversion services spanning various sectors and industries.