On May 5th, 2023, a high-speed ferry traveling between Singapore and Batam was forced to evacuate due to an engine room fire, as confirmed by the Singapore authorities.
The accident prompted the deployment of MPA, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and the Police Coast Guard (PCG) to provide immediate assistance. MPA also dispatched a tug boat to help the ferry and transfer the 62 passengers, including Singaporeans, Malaysians, and Indonesians, among others, to another vessel named 'Merbau Era'. The passengers were then safely transported to Batam.
The 6 crew who remained on the ferryboat put out the fire before SCDF firefighters arrived to ensure that the flames were entirely extinguished.
Furthermore, MPA warned other ships to stay away from the accident site by issuing navigational broadcasts.