Fire authorities at Tanjung Perak port in Surabaya, Indonesia, successfully controlled a significant engine room fire aboard the interisland containership Verizon after approximately four hours on December 29. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, although the sight of heavy smoke caused alarm among those at the busy port. The vessel had docked the previous day, and around 5 AM local time, observers noted large smoke plumes emanating from it.
The fire originated in the engine room, specifically near the generator, making it challenging for firefighting crews. A total of 16 units were deployed to combat the blaze, which eventually spread to other areas, including the paint room and CO2 tank room. Fire officials reported that the flames consumed about 20 square meters of the ship’s interior but were able to contain it from spreading further.
All 22 crew members were safely evacuated without incident, although initial firefighting efforts faced difficulties due to the fire’s location. Concerns were heightened by the presence of nine tons of fuel onboard, of which approximately 60% was consumed by the fire. After the blaze was brought under control, cooling operations continued. The Verizon, built in 1995 and operated by Salem Pacific Indonesia Lines, resumed port operations shortly after the vessel was declared safe. Local media suggested that an electrical short circuit may have been the fire’s cause.
