Tegal, Indonesia Sentinel — A massive fire engulfed at Tegal City Port in Central Java, Indonesia, on Friday, December 27. The fire destroying at least 24 fishing boats with estimated losses at around Rp60 billion ($3.8 million).
Head of Tegal City Police Resort (Polres) AKBP Rully Thomas confirmed the incident, stating that authorities are still investigating the cause of the Fire. “The investigation is ongoing, and we are awaiting the results,” AKBP Rully said.
According to report from Kompas, the fire at Tegal port was first detected around 3:00 AM local time, reportedly started on one of the docked vessels. Strong winds and the presence of diesel fuel at the scene caused the flames to spread rapidly, engulfing nearby boats.
The firefighting operations involved a joint effort from fire departments in Tegal City, Brebes, Tegal Regency, Pemalang, and Pekalongan. Additionally, water cannon trucks from the Tegal City Police and Brebes Police were deployed, alongside support from the Tegal Naval Base and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).
Reporting from Tribun, as of Saturday (12/28/2024) night, it was recorded that 24 boats were victims to the fire. The fire damaged boats to varying degrees, with some suffering 20% damage and others entirely destroyed.
The Chairman of the Tegal Fishermen’s Association (PNKT), Susanto, estimated financial losses at around Rp60 billion ($3.8 million). Susanto highlights that the losses extend beyond the shipowners, also threatening the livelihoods of the crew members. “This disaster has not only shocked boat owners but also left many crew members unemployed,” Susanto said.
Therefore, the cause of the incidents remain under investigation. Authorities have collaborated with the Central Java Police Forensics Laboratory to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Recurring Fire Incident
According to Suara Merdeka, there have been four major ship fire at Tegal Port between 2021 and 2023, with incidents occurring almost annually. In August 2023 alone, a devastating fire destroyed 60 vessels, causing material losses exceeding Rp150 billion (approximately $9.5 million).
The recurring fires are largely attributed to overcrowding, as the port has not been expanded to accommodate the growing number of docked vessels.
Fendiawan Tiskiantoro, Head of the Central Java Maritime and Fisheries Department, acknowledged the urgent need for infrastructure expansion. “There is already a master plan to increase the port’s capacity, including enlarging the harbor basin and extending the breakwater and docks,” he said.
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The port was originally designed to accommodate around 200 fishing boats with a capacity of 30 gross tonnage (GT). However, the number of docked boats has now surged with most boats currently has larger capacity.
“The number of docked vessels is staggering, with approximately 900 boats currently crowding the port. It’s clear that expanding the harbor basin is long overdue,” he added.
He emphasized that once expanded, boats would be able to unload their catch more efficiently and vacate the docking areas swiftly, reducing congestion.
Authorities hope the incident will accelerate government efforts to upgrade Tegal Port’s infrastructure, ensuring safer operations and preventing similar disasters in the future.
(Raidi/Agung)
