The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has reported that the passenger ferry ‘QUEEN STAR 2’, registered in Singapore, caught fire while en route from Singapore to Batam. The incident occurred on Friday at 12:30 local time in the ferry’s engine room, and MPA, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and Police Coast Guard (PCG) immediately mobilised to provide assistance. Fortunately, all 62 passengers, including Singaporeans, Malaysians, and Indonesians, were transferred safely to another vessel, ‘MERBAU ERA’, which took them to Harbourfront Ferry Terminal and arrived safely in Batam. The ferry fire was put out by the crew before SCDF’s arrival, and fire fighters ensured the fire was completely extinguished. There are no reported injuries or pollution, and MPA is on site at the Harbourfront Ferry Terminal, ready to provide support if required. To ensure public safety, MPA has issued navigational broadcasts to ships to stay clear of the incident site.
