Indonesia launches three-month fire-safety checks on passenger ships
Indonesia’s sea transportation directorate has begun a three-month nationwide fire-safety inspection campaign for Indonesian-flagged passenger and ro-ro ships, with checks focused on documents, crew readiness, dangerous goods and…
By Pandi Muktar
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 3 min read
Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s Directorate General of Sea Transportation launched a three-month concentrated inspection campaign on 2 September 2026 to check fire-safety compliance on Indonesian-flagged passenger ships and passenger roll-on/roll-off vessels, according to reports published that day by ABNnews and RRI. The campaign is being carried out nationwide through the ministry’s technical units.
The inspections are based on Directorate General of Sea Transportation Decision No. KP-DJPL 372/2026, and are coordinated by the Directorate of Shipping and Seafarers, according to the reports. Marine inspectors and port authority officers are conducting the checks across Indonesia.
ABNnews reported that the campaign is intended to ensure passenger vessels meet fire-safety requirements. It said priority is being given to ships older than 10 years, vessels with a history of fire or other incidents, ships with major previous findings and vessels serving routes with high passenger and vehicle volumes.
What inspectors will check
The inspection scope includes ship documents, the arrangement, dimensions, capacity and securing of vehicles, passenger and cargo manifests, dangerous goods, fire-prevention and firefighting systems, engine rooms, crew readiness and fire drills, according to ABNnews.
Inspectors will also check whether crew members understand the division of duties between fighting a fire and evacuating passengers, and whether drills are carried out under conditions that resemble real operating scenarios in vehicle and passenger spaces.
The report also says inspectors must verify that firefighting equipment works properly, that vehicle spacing does not block access during an emergency and that dangerous goods are declared and handled according to rules before departure.
Follow-up actions
If inspectors find a deficiency that could endanger a ship, they are to order corrective action and verify that it has been completed, according to ABNnews. Depending on the level of risk, follow-up may include an additional survey by a recognized organization, an additional safety management audit of the operating company or a delay in sailing approval.
RRI’s report on the same campaign said the ministry held an online briefing on 1 September 2026 for marine inspectors and port authority officials from technical units across Indonesia, with participation from the Directorate of Ship Safety and the National Transportation Safety Committee, known as KNKT.
The campaign covers ports and vessels nationwide, including services linked to East Nusa Tenggara, but neither report named specific NTT ports, operators or routes. No inspection results were included in the reports.
For passengers, the main effect is likely to be longer boarding or departure times if a vessel is subject to extra checks or corrective work. Travellers should follow notices from port authorities and individual operators for sailing-specific updates.
Campaign at a glance
- Duration: Three months from 2 September 2026
- Coverage: Indonesian-flagged passenger and passenger ro-ro ships nationwide
- Inspectors: Marine inspectors and port authority officials
- Priority vessels: Older ships, ships with prior fires or incidents, vessels with major findings and high-traffic routes
The campaign’s stated aim is to strengthen passenger and crew safety and improve consistency in inspections across the national fleet.
Sources
Next story
Four Manggarai Timur residents airlifted to Labuan Bajo after Flores quake
Four residents of Manggarai Timur whose health worsened during the Flores earthquake emergency response were flown by Basarnas helicopter to Labuan Ba…