By: Sandra Akhira Meisya Lova Student of the Faculty of Law, Airlangga University (Class of 2021)

The fire that hit KM.Nggapulu is not the first time a fire has hit an Indonesian-flagged ship, at least during the period 2023-2024 there have been five fire incidents on ships, namely KM. Bukit Siguntang on June 16, 2023, KM.Labobar on November 3, 2023, KM. Bukit Raya on April 25, 2024, KM. Umsini on June 9, 2023, and the most recent incident was the burning of KM. Nggapulu in the waters of Tanjung Alang, Ambon, Maluku.

Chronology of the Ship Fire

The chronology of the KM. Nggapulu fire began at 17.00 LT, where the fire alarm on the Bridge sounded and the source of the fire came from Deck 5 on the left outer side, after knowing this, the Officer reported the critical condition to the Captain and also informed the Emergency Team to immediately extinguish the fire. 11 minutes after the fire appeared, the emergency team managed to extinguish the fire and continued cooling efforts until there were no heat sources and fire left. From this incident, no fatalities were reported.

Implementation of SOLAS 1974 as a Foundation

The repeated fire incidents on ships owned by PT Pelni are a clear indication that this company is not yet serious about implementing safety and operational procedures that refer to international standards. These incidents indicate PT Pelni’s weak commitment to maintaining the safety of passengers and crew, and show a failure to comply with the provisions stipulated in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974, as ratified by Indonesia through Presidential Decree Number 65 of 1980.

The 1974 SOLAS Convention with its additional protocol in 1978 is the international legal basis that sets minimum standards related to equipment, construction, and operation of ships to ensure maritime safety. In Chapter II-2 of SOLAS 1974, the principles of fire safety are regulated in detail, including the division of main and vertical zones with thermal and structural boundaries, separation of accommodation spaces from other parts of the ship, use of non-flammable materials, early fire detection, control and extinguishing of fires at the location of origin, and protection of emergency escape means and access for fire fighting. In addition, adequate fire-fighting equipment and efforts to minimize the risk of ignition of flammable cargo vapors are required.

However, the fact that fires continue to occur on PT Pelni ships indicates a violation or negligence in implementing these standards. One of the main causes that can be suspected is the lack of investment in fire detection systems, fire extinguishing equipment, and overall fleet maintenance. Furthermore, the 1978 SOLAS protocol emphasizes the importance of training for ship crews to deal with potential hazards such as fire. Ship crews must have the ability to detect, isolate, and extinguish fires quickly and efficiently. However, the repeated fire incidents indicate a high probability that PT Pelni crew training has not been carried out systematically and continuously, thus reducing their readiness to handle emergency situations.

As the main operator of sea transportation services in Indonesia, PT Pelni has a great responsibility to ensure that all safety procedures are implemented strictly according to international standards. However, this responsibility does not only lie with the company alone. The government, through the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), also has an important role to play in supervising and ensuring that all Indonesian-flagged ships, including the PT Pelni fleet, meet the requirements and standards of shipworthiness. This supervision can be carried out through a comprehensive audit of PT Pelni, which includes an evaluation of fire risk management, the effectiveness of crew training, and the technical feasibility of the fleet operated. This audit should be a priority, considering the negative impact caused by ship fire incidents. In addition to financial losses, ship fires also endanger the lives of passengers and crew, and tarnish Indonesia’s image as a maritime nation.

The government must demonstrate firmness by consistently enforcing regulations and imposing sanctions on companies that fail to comply with safety standards. Routine inspections and field supervision must be carried out periodically to ensure that no violations are missed. In addition to government action, PT Pelni needs to take concrete steps to improve the safety culture within the company. The first step that must be taken is to ensure that all crew members receive adequate training on emergency procedures, especially related to handling fires. This training must be carried out periodically and include simulations of fire situations on ships to improve crew readiness.

Second, the company must conduct routine checks on the fire detection system, ensuring that all devices are working properly and ready to use at any time. Third, PT Pelni needs to allocate an adequate budget for updating firefighting equipment and modernizing the fleet to meet international standards. Transparency in incident reporting is also an important aspect that must be improved. PT Pelni must be open in disclosing the cause of the fire that occurred and the steps taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. With this transparency, the government and the public can monitor the company’s progress in improving safety standards.

Ship safety is not just an administrative formality, but a moral and legal obligation that must be fulfilled by every stakeholder. Without a serious commitment from PT Pelni to improve the safety system and without strict supervision from the government, ship fire incidents have the potential to become a serious threat to Indonesia’s maritime safety. In the long term, close collaboration between PT Pelni, the government, and regulators is needed to ensure that all ships operating under the Indonesian flag meet international safety standards. By strengthening regulations, increasing supervision, and building a strong safety culture, ship fire incidents can be prevented in the future. This comprehensive improvement will not only protect the lives of passengers and crew, but will also strengthen Indonesia’s reputation as a responsible maritime nation committed to shipping safety.