Singapore ferry evacuated following engine room fire

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has reported the safe evacuation of all 62 passengers of a ferry that caught fire while en route to Batam, Indonesia, on Friday, May 5.

The MPA received an alert at around 12:30 local time on Friday saying that a fire had ignited in the engine room of the catamaran ferry Queen Star 2 while it was off Kusu Island.

The MPA, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and the Singapore Police Force’s Police Coast Guard (PCG) division immediately deployed vessels to provide assistance. The MPA also deployed a tug to tow the ferry if required.

All 62 passengers on Queen Star 2 were later safely transferred to another ferry that was sailing to the Harbourfront Ferry Terminal. The ferry then headed to Batam and has since arrived safely with the rescued passengers.

Six crewmembers who remained aboard Queen Star 2 successfully extinguished the blaze. SCDF firefighters later boarded the ferry to ensure that no fires would re-ignite.

No injuries or pollution has been reported. However, as a safety precaution, the MPA has issued navigational broadcasts to other vessels to stay clear of the incident site.